Paul Robeson by Robert Shetterly, AWTT.org
2011
by Robert Shetterly
from Maine, United States
Painting
Americans Who Tell the Truth
Singer, Writer, Civil Rights Activist: 1898 - 1976
"The talents of an artist, small or great, are God given. They've nothing to do with him as a private person; they're nothing to be proud of. They're just a sacred trust... Having been given, I must give. Man shall not live by bread alone, and what the farmer does I must do. I must feed the people-with my songs."
"The talents of an artist, small or great, are God given. They've nothing to do with him as a private person; they're nothing to be proud of. They're just a sacred trust... Having been given, I must give.
Man shall not live by bread alone, and what the farmer does I must do.
I must feed the people-with my songs."
- Paul Robeson -
A widely celebrated student athlete who graduated as Valedictorian of his class at Rutgers, Robeson worked his way through Columbia law school by playing pro football on the weekends. Despite his obvious intellectual gifts, he was poorly treated in the legal community for being a man of color and left the field for the stage. Robeson gained notoriety as "Othello" and as the velvety bass voice singing "Old Man River" from Showboat; replacing some of its racist lyrics with words of pride. Later, he would devote himself to the negro spirituals and traditional work songs of African America. As his curiosity in folk music grew, he dedicated himself to learning foreign languages in order to study folk music from all over the world.
Page created on 11/10/2011 12:21:03 PM
Last edited 4/8/2020 11:34:55 PM
