Paul Robeson

Paul Leroy Robeson was the son of an escaped slave who became a minister. He won an academic scholarship to Rutgers University, where he was valedictorian, a Phi Beta Kappa member, and a two-time All-American football player — all while enduring relentless racism from teammates and opponents.

He attended Columbia Law School but turned to the stage and concert hall, where his magnificent bass-baritone voice and commanding presence made him an international star. His rendition of "Ol' Man River" and his performance in Othello remain legendary. He spoke over 25 languages and performed around the world.

But Robeson refused to separate his art from his politics. He spoke out against lynching, colonialism, and fascism. During the Cold War, his outspoken leftist views and refusal to denounce communism led to his passport being revoked and his career being destroyed by the U.S. government. He was blacklisted for nearly a decade — one of the great tragedies of American cultural life.