Day 6 of the 28 Days of Black Liberation 2024 series
Born in 1898 in New Jersey; son of an escaped Igbo slave, Reverend William Robeson and Quaker Schoolteacher of mixed ancestry, Maria Bustill, Paul Robeson was an acclaimed college athlete, world renown performer of theater/film, political activist, and victim of McCarthyism.
While gaining international acclaim, Robeson was outspoken about the treatment of the black community in the US. Robeson used his stardom and visibility to improve the conditions of the black community, pressuring businesses to loosen restrictions imposed on black people, meeting US govt officials to push civil rights legislation, supporting labor movements, and was outspoken in advocating for indigenous rights. Robeson admonished President Truman for refusing to introduce anti-lynching laws after the Moore’s Ford lynchings telling him that if it wasn’t passed, “the Negroes will defend themselves.” Truman terminated the meeting, declaring it was not the time or place to propose such legislation.
Robeson also used his international acclaim to support anti-fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War, vocally supported the USSR through World War 2 and beyond, he also publicly sympathized with the Republic of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. His public comments made him a target of Nazi Germany.
For his activism Robeson was subjected to various pressures by the US and FBI, that included revoking his passport after establishing a strong international audience in Europe and Africa, pressuring venues from booking him for concerts, theater productions, and film. During the height of McCarthyism the US blocked the production and public displays of his works. When called before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary and questioned about his affiliation with the Communist Party he refused, replying “Some of the most brilliant and distinguished Americans are about to go to jail for the failure to answer that question, and I am going to join them, if necessary.”
Robeson was eventually free to travel and perform internationally in 1958 however it was short lived as his health rapidly began to deteriorate. He retired as a performer and public figure in 1963 and passed away in Philadelphia in 1976.