Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson (1898-1976) was an athlete, actor, singer and political rights activist in the first half of the 20th century. In 1915 he won a scholarship to Rutgers University, the third black student to ever attend Rutgers. He played on the Rutgers football team (above) and was named All American in 1917 and 1918.
He then went on to law school at Columbia, playing professional football while earning his law degree. After graduation, he became an actor in the Harlem Renaissance movement, performing in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones and All God's Chillun Got Wings.
While all this was going on, he found time to pose for Nikolas Muray in 1926 for a series of photos called Nude Studies. Robeson had no problem showing off his athletic body.
Another from Nude Studies.
And another.
In 1925 he posed for a statue by Antonio Salemme called Negro Spiritual. This is a plaster cast of the statue. The original was shipped to France to be cast in bronze but was destroyed in World War II.
In 1936 he sang "Ol' Man River" in the movie Show Boat, in which he starred, above.
His liberal political activism led to persecution in the McCarthy era after World War II. Today he is honored for his views on civil rights as well as his artistic accomplishments.
12 comments:
Very nice.
Fascinating post.
Un homme accompli, raille par les racistes et les réactionnaires aux États-Unis - aussie bien à son époque qu’aujourd’hui - mais une figure américaine originale, aimée et respectée en Europe.
-Beau Mec à Deauville
A well-rounded man.
You might want to mention his most famous role in "Porgy and Bess."
Easy on the eyes.
Black listed and under surveillance by the powers that be, they could not extinguish the dignity and humanity of Robeson.
Dignity and humanity, two virtues that his critics lacked.
-Rj
I knew he had a wonderful voice, but did not know yet he had such a beautiful ass
The title "Show Boat", whether book, musical play, or film, is always two words.
@Anon - You're right. I have fixed it.
This review really glosses over his outspoken political conversion. He wasn't a "liberal", he became a member of the Communist Party and preached the overthrow of the US Government. He fled to France, where he badmouthed the US constantly despite all the fame and fortune he garnered there. He probably would have been arrested for sedition had he remained in the US. During the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was blatantly trying to undermine the US Government and steal our atomic secrets, this was not a minor issue.
Thank you for this wonderful series.
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