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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 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>

'''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 [[Josef Stalin]] and [[Communism]]. 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 Communists 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 denied 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.

==Career pre-Cold War==

==Career pre-Cold War==

After graduating with top academic and athletic honors from Rutgers University in 1919, Robeson attended and graduated from Columbia Law school. Racism at the time limited his options in the field of law so he drifted into entertainment.

After graduating with top academic and athletic honors from Rutgers University in 1919, Robeson attended and graduated from Columbia Law school. Racism at the time limited his options in the field of law so he drifted into entertainment.

In the 1920s, Robeson found fame as an actor and singing star of both stage and radio with his Bass voice and commanding presence. He was one of the few true basses in American music, with his beautiful and powerful voice descending as low as C below the bass clef. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old negro [[spirituals]] were acclaimed for there beauty in singing and Christian lyricism. Robeson and his accompanist and arranger Lawrence Brown were the first to bring them to the concert stage. Paul Robeson recorded over a hundred songs. He also demanded that many of his films defy stereotypes of blacks, making him first black actor to attempt to play roles which had dignity and stressed African pride.

In the 1920s, Robeson found fame as an actor and singing star of both stage and radio with his Bass voice and commanding presence. He was one of the few true basses in American music, with his beautiful and powerful voice descending as low as C below the bass clef. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old negro [[spirituals]] were acclaimed for there beauty in singing and Christian lyricism. Robeson and his accompanist and arranger Lawrence Brown were the first to bring them to the concert stage. Paul Robeson recorded over a hundred songs. He also demanded that many of his films defy stereotypes of blacks, making him first black actor to attempt to play roles which had dignity and stressed African pride.

===Ballad for Americans===

===Ballad for Americans===

After a return from Europe in 1939, Robeson quickly became the voice of the nation when he performed ''Patriotic [[cantata]] with lyrics by John La Touche and music by Earl Robinson. Originally titled, The Ballad for [[Uncle Sam]], it was written for a [[Works Progress Administration]] theatre project called Sing for Your Supper.<ref>Online notes from 2005 [http://www.lafayette.edu/webdata/robeson/audio.html Paul Robeson Conference] at Lafayette College. Accessed 31 January 2006.</ref>

After a return fromquickly became the voice of the nation when he performed ''Patriotic [[cantata]] with lyrics by John La Touche and music by Earl Robinson. Originally titled, The Ballad for [[Uncle Sam]], it was written for a [[Works Progress Administration]] theatre project called Sing for Your Supper.<ref>Online notes from 2005 [http://www.lafayette.edu/webdata/robeson/audio.html Paul Robeson Conference] at Lafayette College. Accessed 31 January 2006.</ref>

Robeson performed "Ballad" on the [[CBS]] radio network in 1943, accompanied by chorus and orchestra. [[Bing Crosby]] would also record a commercially successful recording of the piece but the song is almost always associated with Robeson as it represents the pinnacle of his music and radio career prior to the [[Cold War]]<ref name=Duberman241>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 241. </ref>He would perform it at [[The Hollywood Bowl]] to the largest sold-out crowd in its history.<ref name=Duberman241 />

Robeson performed "Ballad" on the [[CBS]] radio network in 1943, accompanied by chorus and orchestra. [[Bing Crosby]] would also record a commercially successful recording of the piece but the song is almost always associated with Robeson as it represents the pinnacle of his music and radio career prior to the [[Cold War]]<ref name=Duberman241>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 241. </ref>He would perform it at [[The Hollywood Bowl]] to the largest sold-out crowd in its history.<ref name=Duberman241 />

===Communist Party membership rumors===

===Communist Party membership ===

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.