Once he did not existBut his voice was there, waiting
- Pablo Neruda, Ode to Paul Robeson
Today is the birthday of one of the towering figures of 20th Century American musical and political history, Paul Robeson.
Despite his groundbreaking work on the stage and in film during the Jim Crow era, despite his astonishing talent as a singer and despite his lifelong work and struggle against American institutionalized racism and capitalism, he has been largely written out of this history due to his dedicated commitment to the cause of Communism and broader human liberation as well as his steadfast opposition to American imperialism.
Robeson is a genuine hero who was a man of tremendous personal courage. He was also a "Renaissance Man" who was a giant in any number of artistic, sporting and intellectual disciplines and pursuits.
There have been few figures like Paul Robeson.
Robeson stood in the streets of Republican Spain as it faced the Fascist counterrevolution, he refused to bend during the dark days of McCarthyism and he never wavered in his principles from opposing the war in Vietnam to ending colonialism.
In 1973, on the occasion of his 75th birthday a group of prominent Americans ranging from Dizzy Gillespie to Pete Seeger to Harry Belafonte organized to celebrate the man and his work. Part of this included the publication of a retrospective about him and his incredible story.
Here we look at some of the most notable and memorable parts of this book as well as at some of his stirring and moving musical performances. And we also see the statements of respect and solidarity that came from around the world.
A luta continua, vitória é certa!
(click on images to enlarge)
Because you sing,
they know that the sea exists
and that the sea sings.
They know that the sea is free, wide and full of flowers
as your voice, my brother
The sun is ours. The earth will be ours.
Tower of the sea, you will go on singing.
- Pablo Neruda, Ode to Paul Robeson
a towering personality, whose efforts are still necessary to Jim crows through out the world. paul robeson is alive in the struggles of have nots and negros through out the world. my revolutionary salutes to paul robeson, the great singer and fighter.
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