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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
We must join...
... with the tens of millions all over the world who see in peace our most sacred responsibility. - Paul Robeson
In a recent comment on this blog, Sometimes Saintly Nick mentioned Paul Robeson and his concert at the Peace Arch on the U.S.-Canadian Border in 1952. Nick said that our government had revoked Robeson's passport and wouldn't allow him out of the country, so Robeson sang at the border - where an audience of 40,000 people gathered. I didn't know anything about Paul Robeson, but my ears perked up at this story.
Now I've been reading about this incredible man and listening to recordings of his voice. He was a tall man, and his voice sounds like it came from every cell of his body. Deep, rich, full, alive. He was the first to bring spirituals to the concert stage.
Here's a little taste of what he was like:
Robeson's father was a slave. His mother came from an abolitionist Quaker family. Paul (April 9, 1898 - January 23, 1976) was only the third black man to attend Rutgers. He was a singer, actor, athlete, civil rights activist, and Stalin Peace Prize laureate. I read that he could sing and converse in twenty languages. In 1950, his passport was revoked because our government didn't want him talking to people abroad about the racist conditions in our country.
Robeson worked tirelessly to not only educate the world about Africa but also to help free that continent from colonialist exploitation. He also spent a lot of time in Russia. He had a deep love and respect for Joseph Stalin. He admitted to being a socialist and was accused of being communist. In the 1950's, all of his wonderful recordings and films were taken out of circulation. His movies were never seen on American television until after his death.
Maybe you already know all about Paul Robeson. Maybe I'm the last to know. Reading about all that he did against great odds inspires me to consider going beyond my perceived limits.
Thanks Nick!
In a recent comment on this blog, Sometimes Saintly Nick mentioned Paul Robeson and his concert at the Peace Arch on the U.S.-Canadian Border in 1952. Nick said that our government had revoked Robeson's passport and wouldn't allow him out of the country, so Robeson sang at the border - where an audience of 40,000 people gathered. I didn't know anything about Paul Robeson, but my ears perked up at this story.
Now I've been reading about this incredible man and listening to recordings of his voice. He was a tall man, and his voice sounds like it came from every cell of his body. Deep, rich, full, alive. He was the first to bring spirituals to the concert stage.
Here's a little taste of what he was like:
Robeson's father was a slave. His mother came from an abolitionist Quaker family. Paul (April 9, 1898 - January 23, 1976) was only the third black man to attend Rutgers. He was a singer, actor, athlete, civil rights activist, and Stalin Peace Prize laureate. I read that he could sing and converse in twenty languages. In 1950, his passport was revoked because our government didn't want him talking to people abroad about the racist conditions in our country.
Robeson worked tirelessly to not only educate the world about Africa but also to help free that continent from colonialist exploitation. He also spent a lot of time in Russia. He had a deep love and respect for Joseph Stalin. He admitted to being a socialist and was accused of being communist. In the 1950's, all of his wonderful recordings and films were taken out of circulation. His movies were never seen on American television until after his death.
Maybe you already know all about Paul Robeson. Maybe I'm the last to know. Reading about all that he did against great odds inspires me to consider going beyond my perceived limits.
Thanks Nick!
In fact, because of this deep desire for peace, the ruling class leaders of this land, from 1945 on, stepped up the hysteria and propaganda to drive into American minds the false notion that danger threatened them from the East. - Paul Robeson
Labels: inspiration, Paul Robeson
posted by Carol at 9:27 AM
6 Comments:
Excellent post, Carol! Mine on Robeson should be up by later this afternoon. I was thinking as I worked on it, telling Paul Robeson’s story is an excellent project for this 2008 Black History Month.
Thank you, Nick! I will give a link to your post when you have it up. Good idea about the project for Black History Month. I hadn't thought to put it together - typical of my thought-process (or lack thereof).
I wonder if there will come a time when we don't have to have the words "history" or "rights" associated with gender, race, or religion. Our stories will be colorful and inclusive - kind of like a quilt - and so will our rights.
I first learned about Paul Robeson many years ago when I heard Pete Seeger talk about him.
I'm glad to see him getting the attention and respect he deserves.
Hey Thomas!
Thanks for stopping by and for your comments.
Did you see Pete Seeger in person?
I read that he and Robeson were to do a concert in N.Y. in 1949, but it didn't happen due to an attack by vigilantes (some of whom were from the Veterans of Foreign Wars). Seeger's wife and son were injured in the attack. A burning cross was left on the grounds after all was said and done.
Good thing we're a "civilized" country...
I did not know either. Thanks for the lesson!
Hi Mary,
You're welcome!
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