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“Do you know why Bugs Bunny got his picture on a stamp and he didn't?”

Paul Robeson 1898-1976. “Do you know why Bugs Bunny got his picture on a stamp and he didn't?”. Ol' Man River Lyrics rewritten by Paul Robeson There's an old man called the Mississippi, That's the old man that I wants to be…

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“Do you know why Bugs Bunny got his picture on a stamp and he didn't?”

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  1. Paul Robeson 1898-1976 “Do you know why Bugs Bunny got his picture on a stamp and he didn't?”

  2. Ol' Man River Lyrics rewritten by Paul Robeson There's an old man called the Mississippi,That's the old man that I wants to be… (I keeps laughin’ instead of cryin'I must keep fightin' until I'm dyin‘…)Original Lyrics Niggers all work on the Mississippi,Niggers all work while the white folks play. (I gits weary and sick of tryin';I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin‘…)

  3. “Ol' Man Riveris the song most closely associated with Paul Robeson; it was dedicated to him by composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II and was a major element in the musical Showboat (1930). The original 1927 lyrics reflected the racism in the culture of the time and were re-written by Robeson to eliminate the racist words and establish a message of determined defiance.” -www.rutgers.edu/robeson/oldman

  4. He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cotton • And them that plants ‘em, is soon forgotten • But Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along

  5. You and me, we sweat and strain • Body all achin' and racked with pain • Tote that barge and lift that bail • You get a little drunk and you lands in jail

  6. (“You can wreck my name, vilify me, stretch me on the rack… But I won't bow down to any man, be he white or be he black… …Take away my passport, refuse to let me travel… But I will not get down on my knees-you’re never gonna make me grovel…”)

  7. (“You can call me a “traitor”, but I love my country And I will not sell it out because of your hypocrisyI refuse to hide behind “the Fifth”… …I've no fear of honesty”)

  8. You always know exactly where I am, so why don't you just Come on over here and get me… -Larry Kirwan, Black 47 Paul Robeson(Born to be Free)

  9. Paul Robeson (a student/teacher collaboration byJared Hunt/Mr. Rozell) Words and Music by Larry Kirwan and Black 47

  10. "The artist must elect to fight for Freedom or for Slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." Paul Robeson

  11. Early Life • Paul Robeson was born on April 9th, 1898. • As a youth he showed great talent in athletics, academics, music and speaking. • At 17 he won a statewide contest, winning himself a free four year scholarship to Rutgers University.

  12. University Life • Only the third black man accepted to Rutgers, Robeson was a star athlete, winning 15 varsity letters in Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track… though he was “benched” on occasion when opposing teams refused to take the field against a black man. • He also was Rutgers'star scholar, orator and singer. Robeson on the Gridiron

  13. Robeson was Rutgers’ valedictorian, Class of 1919. • His speech urged people to strive for a world where, "black and white shall clasp friendly hands in the consciousness of the fact that we are brethren and that God is the Father of us all." Robeson College Portrait

  14. Robeson continued school at Columbia, earning a law degree. • His law career was short. A white secretary refused to take dictation and he immediately quit.

  15. “The Star” • After Law, Robeson was encouraged to pursue a theatrical career. • He performed in notable works like “Emperor Jones”, “Othello” and “Showboat.” • “Ol’ Man River” became his trademark song. • By 1930 Robeson was a certified Star.

  16. Political Views • After being invited to the USSR, Robeson was enamored by the racial and ethnic equality found there. • Robeson seriously contemplated living in the USSR and even sent his son the Soviet schools. • Robeson believed that the Soviet society was the pinnacle of Man's achievement… Soviet Symbols

  17. Robeson Supported Self Determination for Colonies and despised Imperialism and Fascism… • Robeson also supported the Civil Rights movement, the labor movement and other progressive movements in the United States. • Leading shipyard workers in singing The Star-Spangled Banner, September 1942

  18. World War II • Robeson gave benefit concerts and asked the government to aid China and the USSR. • Robeson Toured with the USO when it became integrated in 1945.

  19. 1943

  20. Robeson used his winning of the NAACP’s Springam Medal in 1945 as a platform to speak out against the post-war developments he disagreed with. • The FBI fully noted this occasion. • He received the Abraham Lincoln Medal for notable and distinguished service in human relations; the FBI, however, labeled him a leading Communist and issued a “custodial detention card” that would allow his immediate arrest in a national emergency. -www.rutgers.edu/robeson

  21. "I stand here struggling for the rights of my people to be full citizens in this country and they are not!” Paul Robeson

  22. Backlash … • After being placed on a list as a suspected communist, many cities moved to ban Robeson. • The Albany, NY Board of Education was among those that refused to let him sing; the NYS Supreme Court ruled he could, if he stuck to the musical program only.

  23. "Whether I am or am not a Communist is irrelevant. The question is whether American citizens, regardless of their political beliefs or sympathies, may enjoy their constitutional rights." Paul Robeson

  24. Robeson spent time picketing outside the White House and testifying before a Senate committee protesting a bill that would force communists to register with the government. • Robeson was misquoted as saying Blacks should not serve in an army that does not guarantee them civil rights. Robeson

  25. Black leaders condemned Robeson before the House Un-American Activities Committee due to his comment. • A Riot occurred at a Robeson concert in Peekskill NY. Rioters torched chairs, smashed the stage and sent 12 people to the hospital. Joseph McCarthy, Chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee

  26. "I'm going to sing wherever the people want me to sing...and I won't be frightened by crosses burning in Peekskill or anywhere else." Paul Robeson

  27. Passport Problems • Robeson’s passport was revoked after speaking out against the Korean War. • Robeson could have gotten his passport back if he had sworn he was not a communist. • Robeson refused, and started an 8 year crusade to regain his passport. Pro-Robeson Poster

  28. “I am born and bred in this America of ours, I want to love it. But we must have the courage to shout at the top of our voices about our injustices. And we must lay the blame right where it is belonged for over three hundred years of slavery and misery; right here on our doorstep!” Paul Robeson

  29. Robeson’s Offensive • Forced to testify in 1956 before McCarty’s HUAC, Robeson boldly declared the committee members"the true un-Americans, and you should be ashamed of yourselves." • Prominent Black leaders continued to shun Robeson. Robeson Speaking out

  30. “Because my father was a slave, and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part of it just like you. And no fascist- minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?” • Paul Robeson (Reply to H.U.A.C. question, “Why did you not stay in Russia?”)

  31. Robeson defied his “imprisonment” by performing via telephone to foreign countries. • Robeson started his own record company because he was blacklisted by all others. • Robeson continued to speak out against persecution of communists and Cold War foreign Policy. One of Robeson’s Albums released under his own label.

  32. The U.S.Supreme Court reversed the passport revocation in 1958, but by then it was too late. He had been “forgotten” by America. • He spent his later years delusional, suffering from many emotional breakdowns. • Robeson died on January 23rd, 1976, from a stroke.

  33. “Although Robeson never regained completely his health or career, he became a worldwide symbol of resistance to oppression…”http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/robeson/robes2.htm

  34. www.ovationtv.com/artszone/programs/robeson ~fin~

  35. Credits • “Paul Robeson (Born to be Free)”, performed by Black 47. Used with artist’s permission (and wholehearted blessings). • Chambers, Lori, et al., Paul Robeson, www.rutgers.edu/robeson/main.html Accessed June 2002. The definitive website on Paul Robeson, from which much of the material for this presentation was garnered, was produced by his alma mater Rutgers University in 1998, the centennial of his birth.

  36. Remembering PaulRobeson- April 9, 1998,Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/1998/robeson_4-9.html. Discussion on the centennial of Robeson’s birth. Accessed 10-02. • Paul Robeson Home Page, Electronic New Jersey- A Digital History of New Jersey, www.scc.rutgers.edu/njh/PaulRobeson. Accessed 10-02. Exploration of Robeson’s formative years growing up in a predominately “white” world.

  37. Paul Robeson on the Web, Princeton Public Library, www.princeton.lib.nj.us/robeson/links, Accessed 10-02. Exhaustive list of links to Robeson related websites. ~fin~

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