Paul Robeson – Flashcards

Raised by Minister Father in Princeton Born in Princeton, New Jersey 1898 Went to Columbia University and Columbia Law School Playing football and Teaching Latin to pay for his education Met aslanda goode and got married Rutgers University . Got scholarship Star athlete Class Valdactorian Very good at debate 1st black football player at Rutgers and 3rd black student

Born with 4 siblings His mother died in a fire when he was only six. Grew up singing in his fathers church. Good relationship with father.

Paul Robeson's big influence was his father Escaped slavery Graduated lincoln university Became a minister Kind and taught respect Mother came from abolishionist quakers

Played lead in two plays. all gods chillun got wings and the Emporer's Jones Entered film industry -1925 Body and Soul London 1928 -Showboat Spoke and preformed at strike rallies Sang for peace and equality in U.S Europe the Soviet Union and Africa premiered in Earl Robinson's Ballad for Americans which celebrated culture /multi ethnic/racial face of america. Production Lead in Othello longest-running non-musical production of Shakespeare play in US

Had his passport revoked Accused of being a communist Called un-american Eight of his concerts were cancelled and they almost ended his career. performances were often surrounded with threats yet he still once got 12 encores

1937 rally anti-fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War The artist must elect to fight for Freedom or for Slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.

Lawyer -singer-football player-actor-social activist-Latin teacher

Went to london -international acclaim for othello -settled for a few years Went to Africa and Europe and Solviet Union to sing

1925- first concert recital only black spirituals Greenwich Village Theater in New York. Peekskill riots 1949 pro trade union and civil rights activism 1952 and 1953 -sang in defiance of the U.S. government "The Peace Arch Concerts." attended by over 40,000 people signature song, "Old Man River.

was able to speak and write in over 20 languages Tomato variety named after him 2004 stamp

Advocate for social equality Traveled world singing and ran many Rallies against racism and social inequalities Films make me into some cheap turn...You bet they'll never let me play a part in a film where a Negro is on top" Outspoken about institutional racism in the film industry and made great strides for People of color one of the first black men to play serious roles primarily white American theater. 1940s Robeson's black nationalist and anti-colonialist activities attention of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Despite his contributions as an entertainer to the Allied forces during World War II, was singled out as a major threat to American democracy.

Every attempt was made to silence and discredit him. fame grew in the United States he became equally well-loved internationally. performed benefits throughout the world for causes of social justice. he believed that the famous have a responsibility to fight for justice and peace.

Show Boat, Othello, The emoporers jones Body and Soul Borderline Big fella

Old man river Sometimes i feel like a motherless child Mary had a baby, yes lord

Father-William Drew Robeson Mother- Maria Louisa Bustin 7 siblings

-Department of State wont grant him a passport -1950, he attempted to renew his passport -travel abroad to fulfill contracts for singing and acting - State Department insisted that Robeson sign an affidavit declaring that he was not a member of the Communist Party -Robeson refused - Filed suit in federal court. In August 1955, Lost

minister of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church ' He was born into slavery 15 years old escaped slavery with his brother Ezekiel Underground Railroad made their way to Philadelphia served in the Union Army as a laborer studied at Lincoln College

Quaker school teacher at the Robert Vaux School for black children emphasized education and advancement for her children

-One of the 1st african american actors who was a lead with white actors -Showed people how well the result would be if they cast actors of color. -Promote and shared black spirituals, shared cultures with other countries to support social movements

accepted into Phi Beta Kappa and Cap and Skull elected class valedictorian Daily Targum published a poem featuring his achievements Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy Hall of Fame NAACP Image Award - Hall of Fame Award All-American in 1917 and 1918, the first African American to do so College Football Hall of Fame

- Fritz Pollard( later to be 1st African-American coach in the National Football League) - Lawrence Brown (musician) -Benjamin Jefferson lawyer and communist elected to the city council of New York City -Aneurin Bevan(Nye Bevan) Welsh Labour Party politician Minister for Health in the post-war Attlee -Andrew Faulds Actor

linguist-about 17 languages Lawyer- quit soon due to racsim Football player-rutgers collage Actor -Numerous leads in plays Singer-activism and representation of culture in other countries

Robeson played Othello in New York directed by Margaret Webster starring Uta Hagen Jose Ferrer. performance won Robeson the 1944 Donalson Award on Broadway for 296 performances longer than any previous Shakespeare play, lengthy and triumphant North American tour after

critically acclaimed and successful at the box office withdrawn from circulation in the 1940s MGM-didnt want to add a version of Show Boat to their growing list of Golden Age Movie Musicals -bought the rights from Universal hoped to star Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in a remake, but those plans fell through MGM's 1951 film Show Boat did not begin filming until late 1950, released in the summer of 1951

- 1933 American Pre-Code film adaptation - Eugene O'Neill play -was made outside of the Hollywood studio system, -financed with private money from wealthy producer -directed by iconoclast Dudley Murph - cast Paul Robeson in his first film role - Robeson starred in the O'Neill play on stage -both in the United States and England -a role that had helped launch his career.

Robeson began dating Eslanda "Essie" Goode he gave his theatrical debut as Simon in Ridgely Torrence's Simon of Cyrene. After a year of courtship they were married in August 1921

entered NYU School of Law in the fall of 1919 To support himself became an assistant football coach at Lincoln joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity felt uncomfortable at NYU moved to Harlem and transferred to Columbia Law 1920. Already known in the black community for his singing performed at the dedication of the Harlem YWCA

1924 landed the lead role of Jim in Eugene O'Neill's All God's Chillun Got Wings Chillun's opening was postponed a nationwide debate occurred over its plot a person of color marries a white girl and is unhappy

renowned while touring as a pianist with gospel singer Roland Hayes stumbled upon Robeson in Harlem The two worked togather with Robeson as lead and Brown as accompanist. booked Provincetown Playhouse for a concert pair's rendition of African-American folk songs and spirituals was captivating Victor Records signed Robeson to a contract Robeson and Brown performed a series of concert tours In America from 1926 to 1927

During a break in NY HE learned Essie was several months pregnant Paul Robeson, Jr. was born in November 1927 in New York, Robeson and Brown toured Europe experienced complications from the birth by mid-December, her health had deteriorated dramatically Ignoring Essie's objections, her mother told Robeson and he immediately returned to her bedside Essie completely recovered after a few months.

-believed struggle against fascism during the Spanish Civil War transformed him into a political activist 1937 -used his concert performances to advocate the -Robeson overruled him and decided that contemporary events trumped commercialism In Wales, -he commemorated the Welsh killed while fighting for the Republicans

"The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." traveled to Spain in 1938 visited the battlefron provided a morale boost to the Republicans at a time when their victory was unlikely -Back in England, he hosted Jawaharlal Nehru to support Indian independence -Robeson reevaluated the direction of his career focus his attention on utilizing his talents to bring attention to the ordeals of "common people" -he appeared in the pro-labor play Plant in the Sun Robeson became an advocate in the aspirations of African colonialists for political independence

1951, an article titled "Paul Robeson - the Lost Shepherd" was published in The Crisis United States State Department arranged for the article to be printed and distributed in Africa defame Robeson's reputation and reduce his and Communists' popularity in colonial countries Another article by Wilkins denounced Robeson as well as the Communist Party.

A book reviewed in early 1950 the most complete record on college football failed to list Robeson as ever having played on the Rutgers team and as ever having been an All-American

(1956-1957) Congressional Hearings In 1956 Robeson was called before HUAC after he refused to sign an affidavit affirming that he was not a Communist In his testimony, he invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to reveal his political affiliations asked why he had not remained in the Soviet Union because of his affinity with its political ideology replied that "because my father was a slave and my people died to build [the United States and], I am going to stay here, and have a part of it just like you and no fascist-minded people will drive me from it!"

appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States reinstate his confiscated passport had been rejected over the telephone Robeson was able to sing to the 5,000 gathered there as he had to London Due to his political views his recordings and films were removed from public distribution universally condemned in the U.S press it became increasingly difficult in the United States to hear Robeson sing on commercial radio, buy his music or see his films

1958 - publication of Robeson's manifesto-autobiography Here I Stand - passport was restored in June 1958 - and he embarked on a world tour using London as his base -In Moscow in August 1959, he received a tumultuous reception at the Lenin Stadium - he sang classic Russian songs along with American standards -catered to his audience -although he didnt sacrifice messages Robeson and Essie then flew to Yalta to rest 1959 took part in a service at St. Paul's Cathedral the first black performer to sing there

1960 Robeson embarked on a two-month concert tour of Australia and New Zealand with Essie -Mainly to generate money - at the behest of Australian politician Bill Morrow. in Sydney, he became the first major artist to perform at -the construction site of the future Sydney Opera House.After appearing at the Brisbane Festival Hall, they --went to Auckland where Robeson reaffirmed his support of Marxism (communism) - Robeson publicly stated "..the people of the lands of Socialism want peace dearly" introduced to Faith Bandler enlightened him to the deprivation of the Australian Aborigines. -Robeson became enraged and demanded the Australian government provide the Aborigines citizenship and equal rights - attacked the view of the Aborigines as unsophisticated and uncultured -declared, "there's no such thing as a backward human being, there is only a society which says they are backward.

-thought of as a perfect example of harlem renaissance man Multiple talents advocate for numerous social causes remembered for proud attitude + powerful actor/voice

As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this. But the deep desire for peace remained with the American people. We must join with the tens of millions all over the world who see in peace our most sacred responsibility.

anthropologist, author, actor civil rights activist. business manager of her husband first Black woman to head a pathology laboratory descendant of slaves 1920 They both attended summer school at Columbia . One year later - married.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/12/remembering_the_overlooked_life_eslanda_robeson http://biography.yourdictionary.com/eslanda-goode-robeson http://www.biography.com/people/paul-robeson-9460451 https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/robeson/ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/history/what-paul-robeson-said-77742433/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5345904.stm http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0732079/ http://spectator.org/articles/59551/death-communist http://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Robeson http://www.notablebiographies.com/Pu-Ro/Robeson-Paul.html

born in Brooklyn he grew up in England and Moscow published two books about father created an archive of his father's films, photographs, recordings, letters, and publications

took a job with a law firm left when a white secretary refused to take dictation from him didnt find his calling could make money other ways.

Robeson studied Chinese met with Albert Einstein to discuss peace published his autobiography, Here I Stand sang at Carnegie Hall kept fighting, just in his country

Old Man River Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child Ballad for Americans Mary Had a Baby, Yes, Lord Star Vicino Joe Hill (Pete Seeger)

Paul Robeson played four years for the famous coach, G. Foster Sanford. Rutgers had a 22-6-3 record in that time 31 games Rutgers scored 941 points