Paul Robeson: A 20th Century Genius

Paper Summary:

The paper provides a synopsis of Robeson's life and his achievements and examines his impact on arts and culture. The paper shows how Robeson was an amazingly accomplished individual who was known as a scholar, athlete, lawyer, actor, singer, author and social activist. The paper notes that most of his achievements have been obscured because of the propaganda surrounding his connections with the communist party.

From the Paper:

"Paul Leroy Robeson was born on April 9, 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey. His father, William Robeson, a former runaway slave, was a Presbyterian preacher. Paul's mother, Maria Louisa Robeson was from a distinguished family and was a schoolteacher. At the age of six, Paul's mother was killed in a kitchen fire and his father relocated to Westfield, New Jersey. In 1910, the family moved to Somerville, New Jersey where Paul attended Somerville High School. The high school was integrated and surprisingly Paul had minimal race issues in Somerville. He excelled in school. Paul was on the debate team, he made straight A's, he was in the chorus, he played sports, and he was active in drama. Miss Miller, Paul's drama teacher, took a special interest in him. Though it was risky and controversial, Miss Miller believed in Paul so much that she coached him to play the lead role in the Shakespearean play Othello. Paul did get the part and he was a hit (Robeson, 1971)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American masters: Paul Robeson, (2008). Retrieved March 14, 2008, from: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/robeson_p.html
• Clarke, J. (2001). Paul Robeson. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from: http://www.africawithin.com/bios/paul_robeson.htm
• Nagel, R. (1997). Biography: Paul Robeson. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from: http://homepage.sunrise.ch/homepage/comtex/rob3.htm
• Robeson, P. (1958). Here I stand. Boston: Beacon Press.

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