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'''Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson''' (April 9, 1898–January 23, 1976) concert singer, scholar, actor of film and stage, [[All-American]] and professional athlete, writer, multi-lingual orator and lawyer who was also noted for his wide-ranging radical leftist activism including anti lynching legalization, anti-colonialism and eventually Stalinist Russia. A forerunner of the US [[civil rights]] movement, Robeson was a [[trade union]] activist,Phi Beta Kappa Society laureate, and a recipient of the Spingarn Medal and Stalin Peace Prize. Robeson achieved worldwide fame during his life for his artistic accomplishments, and his outspoken, [[radical]] beliefs which largely clashed with the [[colonial powers]] of [[Western Europe]] and the [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]] climate of the pre-civil rights [[United States]], thus becoming a prime target during the [[McCarthyist]] era.<ref>Robeson, Susan. ''Paul Robeson: The Whole World in His Hands, a Pictorial Biography'', 1980, pg 13, prologue</ref><ref>Boyle, Shelia Tully. ''Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement'', 2001, pg 11 notes on sources</ref><ref name="Duberman Preface">Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, preface</ref><ref>Seton, Marie. ''Paul Robeson'', 1958, pg 57.</ref>

'''Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson''' (April 9, 1898–January 23, 1976) concert singer, scholar, actor of film and stage, [[All-American]] and professional athlete, writer, multi-lingual orator and lawyer who was also noted for his wide-ranging radical leftist activism including anti lynching legalization, anti-colonialism and eventually Stalinist Russia. A forerunner of the US [[civil rights]] movement, Robeson was a [[trade union]] activist, Phi Beta Kappa Society laureate, and a recipient of the Spingarn Medal and Stalin Peace Prize. Robeson achieved worldwide fame during his life for his artistic accomplishments, and his outspoken, [[radical]] beliefs which largely clashed with the [[colonial powers]] of [[Western Europe]] and the [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]] climate of the pre-civil rights [[United States]], thus becoming a prime target during the [[McCarthyist]] era.<ref>Robeson, Susan. ''Paul Robeson: The Whole World in His Hands, a Pictorial Biography'', 1980, pg 13, prologue</ref><ref>Boyle, Shelia Tully. ''Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement'', 2001, pg 11 notes on sources</ref><ref name="Duberman Preface">Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, preface</ref><ref>Seton, Marie. ''Paul Robeson'', 1958, pg 57.</ref>

Initially an apolitical artist, Robeson was the first major concert star to popularize the performance of Negro spirituals and was the first black actor of the 20th century to portray [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Othello]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]. As of 2009 Robeson's run in the 1943&ndash;45 ''Othello'' production still holds the record for the longest running Shakespeare play on Broadway. In line with Robeson's vocal dissatisfaction with movie [[stereotype]]s, his roles in both the [[Cinema of the United States|US]] and [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British film industries]] were some of the first parts ever created that displayed dignity and respect for the African American film actor, paving the way for [[Sidney Poitier]] and [[Harry Belafonte]].<ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 90.</ref>

Initially an apolitical artist, Robeson was the first major concert star to popularize the performance of Negro spirituals and was the first black actor of the 20th century to portray [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Othello]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]. As of 2009 Robeson's run in the 1943&ndash;45 ''Othello'' production still holds the record for the longest running Shakespeare play on Broadway. In line with Robeson's vocal dissatisfaction with movie [[stereotype]]s, his roles in both the [[Cinema of the United States|US]] and [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British film industries]] were some of the first parts ever created that displayed dignity and respect for the African American film actor, paving the way for [[Sidney Poitier]] and [[Harry Belafonte]].<ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 90.</ref>

At the height of his fame, Paul Robeson decided to become a primarily political artist, staunchly affiliated with Communist causes, speaking out against [[fascism]] and [[racism]] in the US and abroad as the United States government and many Western European powers failed after [[World War II]] to end [[racial segregation]] and guarantee civil rights for [[people of color]].<ref name="Duberman Preface" /> In Robeson's view, Communism would do more for the liberation of peoples of color then capitalism would. Robeson thus became a prime target of the [[Red Scare]] during the late 1940s through to the late 1950s. His passport was revoked from 1950 to 1958 under the [[McCarran Act]] and he was under surveillance by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and by the British [[MI5]] for well over three decades until his death in 1976. The reasoning behind his persecution centered not only on his beliefs in [[socialism]] and friendship with the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] peoples and open support of [[Joesph Stalin]] but also his tireless work towards the liberation of the colonised peoples of [[Africa]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Asia]] and the Australian aborigines, his support of the [[International Brigades]], his efforts to push for anti-[[lynching]] legislation and the [[racial integration]] of [[major league baseball]] among many other causes that challenged [[white supremacism]] and advocated Communism on six continents.<ref name="Duberman Preface">Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, preface</ref>  

At the height of his fame, Paul Robeson decided to become a primarily political artist, staunchly affiliated with Communist causes, speaking out against [[fascism]] and [[racism]] in the US and abroad as the United States government and many Western European powers failed after [[World War II]] to end [[racial segregation]] and guarantee civil rights for [[people of color]].<ref name="Duberman Preface" /> In Robeson's view, Communism would do more for the liberation of peoples of color then capitalism would. Robeson thus became a prime target of the [[Red Scare]] during the late 1940s through to the late 1950s. His passport was revoked from 1950 to 1958 under the [[McCarran Act]] and he was under surveillance by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and by the British [[MI5]] for well over three decades until his death in 1976. The reasoning behind his persecution centered not only on his beliefs in [[socialism]] and friendship with the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] peoples and open support of [[Joesph Stalin]] but also his tireless work towards the liberation of the colonised peoples of [[Africa]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Asia]] and the Australian aborigines from Capitalism in hopes that they would become Communist, his support of the [[International Brigades]], his efforts to push for anti-[[lynching]] legislation and the [[racial integration]] of [[major league baseball]] among many other causes that challenged [[white supremacism]] and advocated international socialism  on six continents.<ref name="Duberman Preface">Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, preface</ref>  

Condemnation of Robeson and his beliefs came swiftly from both the [[United States Congress]] and many mainstream black organizations including the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP).<ref name="Duberman Preface" /><ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 400.</ref>To this day, Paul Robeson's FBI file is one of the largest of any entertainer ever investigated by the [[United States Intelligence Community]], requiring its own internal index and unique status of health file.<ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 563, notes on sources</ref> Despite being blacklisted and limited activity in his later years, Paul Robeson remained, throughout his life, committed to Communism and anti-colonialism and was unapologetic about his political views including his support of Joesph Stalin.<ref>Brown, Lloyd. ''The Young Paul Robeson 1997.pg 161</ref>  

Condemnation of Robeson and his beliefs came swiftly from both the [[United States Congress]] and many mainstream black organizations including the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP).<ref name="Duberman Preface" /><ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 400.</ref>To this day, Paul Robeson's FBI file is one of the largest of any entertainer ever investigated by the [[United States Intelligence Community]], requiring its own internal index and unique status of health file.<ref>Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pg 563, notes on sources</ref> Despite being blacklisted and limited activity in his later years, Paul Robeson remained, throughout his life, committed to Communism and anti-colonialism and was unapologetic about his political views including his support of Joesph Stalin.<ref>Brown, Lloyd. ''The Young Paul Robeson 1997.pg 161</ref>  

 

Robeson was a hero to the far left and while not formally a member of the Communist Party, it relied upon him for support in their relentless efforts to appeal to black Americans.  His efforts to turn blacks against America failed, and the civil rights movement kept its distance from this provocateur who threatened to disgrace and distort their movement on behalf of civil rights and American values.

Robeson was a hero to the far left and while not formally a member of the Communist Party, it relied upon him for support in their relentless efforts to appeal to black Americans.  His efforts to turn blacks against America failed, and the civil rights movement kept its distance from this provocateur who threatened to disgrace and distort their movement on behalf of civil rights and American values.

==Career pre-Cold War==

==Career pre-Cold War==

After graduating with top academic and athletic honors from Rutgers University in 1919, Robesongraduated 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 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.