internationally famous actor and singer. paul Robeson was a political activist on behalf of oppressed peoples for nearly fifty years. He was born in New Jersey in 1898, the son of a runaway slave. A scholar and athlete who graduated from Rutgers University, Paul Robeson lived and performed in Europe from the late 1920's until 1939. During that time, he gained a strong appreciation for diverse cultures, particularly those of Africa, and learned several African languages. At the same time, his hatred of racial prejudice and class difference led him to become active in a variety of political and social issues, including the British labor movement.

During Hitler's reign in Germany, Paul Robeson became one of the world's most famous anti-fascists. He had become acquainted with socialist ideals from his friend George Bernard Shaw, among others, and became interested in the Soviet Union. While he disagreed with many principles of communism, he admired the Soviet Union's apparent lack of racial prejudice and ultimately became personal friends with Krushchev. Before that happened, however, he spoke out against the fascist General Franco in Spain, became a leader in the developing civil rights movement in the United States, and supported the CIO (later part of the AFL-CIO) in its union organizing efforts. Because of his admiration for many aspects of Soviet culture and society, as well as his publicly stated belief that black Americans should not wage war on behalf of their own oppressors (the U.

S. government) against the Soviet Union, his U.

S. passport was revoked in 1950 until 1958. He was blacklisted by the U.

S. government (and was subject to lengthy harassment from the FBI and CIA, among other agencies), the entertainment industry, and also by the Black Civil Rights movement, who thoiught his links to Communism were too damaging to their cause. therefore robeson was unable to perform until 1957. in the 1960s, robeson suffered from clinical depression and he underwent electroshock therapy treatments. In spite of his ill treament at the hands of the authorities, he kept fighting for dignity and equality for all humans until his illness forced him to retire in the mid-1960's.see also: [clapping]
"I shall take my voice..."
LOUDER THAN WAR
"The artist must elect to fight for freedom..."
"We have the power of numbers..."
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