Paul Robeson

My definition of a hero is someone who puts others before him or herself and pushes past difficult obstacles. My hero is Paul Robeson for many reasons. He is loyal, strong, determined, has a lot of courage, and more. I see him as a hero because he helped African Americans win their equality rights when no one would. Paul showed a lot of perseverance when he lost everything because he still wanted to help, even though some disagreed with his actions.

To start off, Paul Leroy Robeson was born on August April 9, 1898. He was raised by his mother Maria Louis Bustill and his father William Robeson in Princeton, New Jersey. Paul was a very smart, talented, and determined man. Over the years of life his love for acting and singing got stronger. He performed in concert which people fell in love with, whites and blacks. One day when Paul spoke up for African Americans because he felt like they were being treated unfairly. Many disagreed with his action and his drive in his career took a wrong turn.

Paul's actions changed the way people felt about him. "I am being treated like a human being in Soviet Union. I am not in the United States" was something that he said towards the United States government (Mckissack). Paul felt like when he was in other countries he was being treated friendlier than when he was in America. Soon, Americans started to call him a "traitor" because he of this. Days after the government would not let Paul travel and after a concert "there was a terrible riot. People threw rocks and bottles at those who had come to hear him sing (Mckissack). Paul was soon losing all of his rights but he refused to quit.

Paul Robeson influenced the world I many ways. After trying to help with equal rights everything he loved was taken away from him. "No one would hire him to make movies or be in their play" are some examples of things that he lost (Mckissack). Even when he was at his lowest he still didn't give up on fighting. He went to court and fought for him and his wife's freedom to travel, and he won. He also fought for equal rights for African American people and it happened to change many of their lives. He didn't just fight for equal rights for African American but for everyone.

I look up to Paul Robeson because he is the type of person who doesn't let anyone or anything stop him from doing what he wants to do. After losing his freedom, wife, fans, career, everything that he loves, he still went on in trying to make the world a better place. I feel that Paul went through a lot in his life but it only made him stronger as a person. He was a smart and talented African American who deserves to be celebrated in black history. Paul Robeson will forever be known for his courage and ambition.