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| | ===Modern opinions on Robeson and the Soviet Union=== | | ===Modern opinions on Robeson and the Soviet Union=== |
| − | Many anti-communist scholars and journalists cite Robeson's friendship with the peoples of USSR and his deep admiration of [[Russian culture]] and refer to him a [[Stalinist]] which effectively negates his other achievements and political affiliations including his lifetime connections and friendships with American and [[European Jews]]<ref>Faingold, Noma. "Paul Robeson: forgotten hero of Jews, African-Americans" ''Jewish News Weekly'', July 1998</ref><ref>Karp, Jonathan. "Performing Black-Jewish Symbiosis: The "Hassidic Chant" of Paul Robeson", ''American Jewish History'', Volume 91, Number 1, March 2003, pp. 53-81</ref> Movie reviewer, [[Richard Corliss]] wrote in 1998 that Robeson "... was also a stubborn apologist for communism, Stalin-style." and that he "... could sell sand to Saharans, but he couldn't peddle Stalin to America.... If Robeson rejected a homegrown system of oppression to embrace another, more toxic one, that was his right." | + | ==Modern opinions on Robeson and the Soviet Union== |
| | + | Many right wing scholars and journalists use Robeson's friendship with the peoples of USSR and his deep admiration of [[Russian culture]] as a means to incorrectly label him a [[Stalinist]] and effectively negate his other achievements and political affiliations including his lifetime connections and friendships with American and [[European Jews]]<ref>Faingold, Noma. "Paul Robeson: forgotten hero of Jews, African-Americans" ''Jewish News Weekly'', July 1998</ref><ref>Karp, Jonathan. "Performing Black-Jewish Symbiosis: The "Hassidic Chant" of Paul Robeson", ''American Jewish History'', Volume 91, Number 1, March 2003, pp. 53-81</ref> Movie reviewer, [[Richard Corliss]] wrote in 1998 that Robeson "... was also a stubborn apologist for communism, Stalin-style." and that he "... could sell sand to Saharans, but he couldn't peddle Stalin to America.... If Robeson rejected a homegrown system of oppression to embrace another, more toxic one, that was his right." |
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| | + | ===David Horowitz=== |
| | + | One of the most vocal contemporary conservative voices to challenge Robeson's legacy for his friendship with the Soviet Union 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, |
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| | + | :"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> |
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| | + | Despite Horowitz's in-depth knowledge of the Communist Party (his parents were both members), Robeson is not on record anywhere as ever being a Communist Party member nor did he ever meet Stalin. 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. Furthermore, Horowitz has quoted in his autobiography, ''Radical Son'', that Robeson was "guilty with remorse at the end of his life" about not "saving Itzik Feffer's life". Horowitz does not his cite sources though, and nor has he ever been close to or affiliated with Paul Robeson or his family. As he would have been ten years old at the time of the alleged conversation and having never met Paul Robeson, the veracity of his statement could be called into question.<ref name=Horowitz74 /> |
| | + | ===Liberal and far-left scholars=== |
| | + | Many liberal or centrist political interpreters of Robeson's life feel he was "duped", "victimized", "misled" or even "used" by the Soviet Union. [[Far Left]] and communist scholars tend to point to conflicting accounts and evidence in regards to what Robeson may have actually said to [[Paul Robeson Jr]] regarding [[Itzik Feffer]] (as he is the only one his father confided to who has gone on record). They also question the authenticity and the credibility of both mainstream and right wing historical interpretations of Communism and Robeson in juxtaposition with Western Europe and American capitalism.<ref name=finger /> |
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| | ==Quotes== | | ==Quotes== |