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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, defending arguably some of most horrible atrocities in history taking place under his eyes in Moscow, while diverting attention of African Americans by stressing instead the evils of [[fascism]] and [[racism]] in the US and abroad.<ref name="Duberman Preface" /> In Robeson's view, Communism would do more for the liberation of peoples of color then capitalism would; he ignored the fierce racism in Moscow itself while stating that he himself did not experience any..  

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 Marxist work towards the liberation of the colonized peoples of [[Africa]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Asia]] and the Australian aborigines. Robeson wanted these peoples to overthrow Capitalism in hopes that they would become Communist and controled by the Soviets. Robeson was also targeted for his support of the Soviet backed [[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 supremacy and advocated Communism on six continents.<ref name="Duberman Preface">Duberman, Martin. ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, preface</ref>

Robeson roused fears among Americans who thought he might succeed in creating a violent black revolt during the late 1940s through to the late 1950s. The State Depatment revoked his passport from 1950 to 1958 under the [[McCarran Act]] to limit the damage he could do to the United States and the world. Eventually it was ruled by the supreme court that lifting a passport was unconstitutional. Leftists flocked to his colors--a bonanza for the counterspied of the FBI, CIA and British [[MI5]] who watched him for over four decades.  

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. And in 2004, after nearly a decade of intense lobbying and petitioning of the United States Postal Services' citizens stamp advisory board by Communists, Paul Robeson was finally featured on a US postage stamp. The Paul Robeson Commemorative Postage Stamp is the 27th stamp in the Black Heritage Series.

 

 

 

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==