Contents
Paul Robeson
Combining a celebrated bass-baritone voice with outspoken civil-rights activism.
Show Boat · The Emperor Jones
- Born
- 9 April 1898
- Birthplace
- Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Died
- 23 January 1976
More people
Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson was an American singer, actor and campaigner whose career crossed concert halls, theatre and film. His political commitments made him an international public figure and a target of Cold War repression.
Early life
A minister’s son
His father had escaped slavery and became a minister in New Jersey.
Rutgers scholarship
Excelled academically and in sport, graduating as class valedictorian in 1919.
Career
- 1923
Law qualification
Graduated from Columbia Law School before concentrating on performance.
- 1920s–1930s
International stage
Built a career in theatre, concerts and films, including extended work in Britain.
- 1950–1958
Travel restriction
The US government withheld his passport, severely curtailing international work.
Selected work
Show Boat
His London performance made Ol’ Man River a signature song.
The Emperor Jones
Starred in the screen adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s play.
Othello
Led a major Broadway production of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Beyond work
Civil-rights campaigning
Used concerts and public speeches to oppose racism and colonialism.
Political controversy
Supported the Soviet Union, including positions that attracted criticism over Stalinist repression.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Gordon Parks , Office of War Information; cropped by Beyond My Ken ( talk ) 07:13, 3 February 2011 (UTC). Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
