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'''Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson''' (April 9, 1898–January 23, 1976) was an American [[actor]] of film and stage, All-American and professional [[athlete]], [[writer]], multi-lingual [[orator]], [[lawyer]], and ''basso profondo'' concert singer who was also noted for his wide-ranging support of socialism, Communist countries and anti-imperialism. A forerunner of the [[civil rights]] movement, Robeson was a trades union [[activist]], peace activist, [[Phi Beta Kappa Society]] laureate, and a recipient of the Spingarn Medal and [[Stalin Peace Prize]]. His outspoken beliefs and friendships with Communist countries lead to his passport being revoked from 1950 to 1958 under the [[McCarran Act]] and he was under surveillance by the U.S. [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and by British [[MI5]] for well over three decades until his death in 1976. On October 7, 1946, Robeson testified before the Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities in California (Tenney Committee) that he was not a Communist Party member. Contrary to popular belief he has not to this day, ever been identified as a card carrying or official member of any Communist organization despite his unwavering support.<ref name=Duberman241>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 307. </ref>

'''Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson''' (April 9, 1898–January 23, 1976) was an American [[actor]] of film and stage, All-American and professional [[athlete]], [[writer]], multi-lingual [[orator]], [[lawyer]], and ''basso profondo'' concert singer who was also noted for his wide-ranging support of socialism, Communist countries and anti-imperialism. A forerunner of the [[civil rights]] movement, Robeson was a trade union [[activist]], peace activist, [[Phi Beta Kappa Society]] laureate, and a recipient of the Spingarn Medal and [[Stalin Peace Prize]]. His outspoken beliefs and friendships with Communist countries lead to his passport being revoked from 1950 to 1958 under the [[McCarran Act]] and he was under surveillance by the U.S. [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and by British [[MI5]] for well over three decades until his death in 1976. On October 7, 1946, Robeson testified before the Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities in California (Tenney Committee) that he was not a Communist Party member. Contrary to popular belief he has not to this day, ever been identified as a card carrying or official member of any Communist organization despite his unwavering support.<ref name=Duberman241>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 307. </ref>

==Career pre-Cold War==

==Career pre-Cold War==

===Communist Party membership rumors===

===Communist Party membership rumors===

Robeson's political statements and activism, including sympathies expressed towards the Soviet Union, [[Lenin]], [[Mao Zedong]], [[Josip Broz Tito]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] were the subject of great controversy in the mass media, in particular rumors (never substantially proven to this day) of membership in the [[Communist Party USA|American Communist Party]]. There is no clear evidence that Robeson ever was a member of the Communist Party.

Robeson's political statements and activism, including sympathies expressed towards the Soviet Union, [[Lenin]], [[Mao Zedong]], [[Josip Broz Tito]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] were the subject of great controversy in the mass media, in particular rumors (never substantially proven to this day) of membership in the [[Communist Party USA|American Communist Party]]. There is no clear evidence that Robeson ever was a member of the Communist Party.

According to records released under the [[Freedom of Information]] Act, the FBI believed that Robeson might have joined the Party under the name "John Thomas" but "his Communist Party membership book number is not known." Robeson's biographer, Martin Duberman, concludes that "he was never a member of CPUSA, never a functionary, never a participant in its daily bureaucratic operations."<ref name=dubermanpages/> Paul Robeson, Jr. has also stated on numerous times that his father was never a member of the CPUSA.

According to records released under the [[Freedom of Information]] Act, the [[FBI]] believed that Robeson might have joined the Party under the name "John Thomas" but "his Communist Party membership book number is not known." Robeson's biographer, Martin Duberman, concludes that "he was never a member of CPUSA, never a functionary, never a participant in its daily bureaucratic operations."<ref name=dubermanpages/> Paul Robeson, Jr. has also stated on numerous times that his father was never a member of the CPUSA.

One of the most vocal contemporary conservative voices to challenge Robeson's legacy for his friendship with the CPUSA is [[David Horowitz]] the founder of David Horowitz Freedom Center. David Horowitz mentioned in his 2006 book'' [[The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America]]'' the distinguished historian [[Eric Foner]] lauding Robeson at a 2003 teach-in at [[Columbia University]] and then responded by saying,:"It's true that Paul Robeson was never satisfied with his country. He was an icon (and member) of the American Communist Party, who received a Stalin Peace Prize from the dictator himself."<ref>Horowitz, David, "Moment of Truth (for the anti-American Left)", ''Jewish World Review'', March 31, 2003''</ref>

One of the most vocal contemporary conservative voices to challenge Robeson's legacy for his friendship with the CPUSA is [[David Horowitz]] the founder of David Horowitz Freedom Center. David Horowitz mentioned in his 2006 book'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=CYqZjtVp00AC&pg=PA177&dq=Foner%2Bhorowitz The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America]'' the historian [[Eric Foner]] lauding Robeson at a 2003 teach-in at [[Columbia University]] and then responded by saying,:"It's true that Paul Robeson was never satisfied with his country. He was an icon (and member) of the American Communist Party, who received a Stalin Peace Prize from the dictator himself."<ref>Horowitz, David, "Moment of Truth (for the anti-American Left)", ''Jewish World Review'', March 31, 2003''</ref>

Despite Horowitz's credible and in-depth knowledge of the Communist Party (his parents were both members and he attended events while growing up), Robeson is not on record anywhere as ever being a Communist Party member nor did he ever meet Stalin in person. The Stalin Peace Prize was awarded to Robeson at the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C. by embassy officials. Had Robeson been a CP member he would most likely have been jailed under the [[Smith Act]], the FBI surveillance on his life being virtually non-stop during the late 1940s and 1950s.

In accepting the Prize, Robeson stated, "We know how [[Truman]] betrayed the American people in their hopes for peace, how he betrayed the Negro people in their thirst for equal rights, how he tore up the [[Bill of Rights]] and subjected the whole American people to a reign of FBI-[[terror]]ization."<ref>[http://www.mltranslations.org/Miscellaneous/RobesonSPP.htm Thoughts on Winning the Stalin Peace Prize], Paul Robeson, January 1953.</ref>

==The Soviet Union and communist advocacy==

==The Soviet Union and communist advocacy==

[[Category: Actors]]

[[Category: Actors]]

[[Category: Male Singers]]

[[Category: Male Singers]]

[[Category: Communist Sympathizers]]

[[Category: Communists]]