First published 1998
This collection of scholarly essays reconstructs the complex life of Paul Robeson, the Rutgers football champion and Phi Beta Kappa graduate who transformed himself into America's first politically engaged Black performing artist. Stewart assembles respected scholars to examine how Robeson navigated his ascent from All-American athlete to international star during the Harlem Renaissance. The contributors trace his theatrical triumphs in Eugene O'Neill productions, his concert performances of spirituals across European venues, and his starring roles in three Othello productions. They analyze his film career, from early successes in "The Emperor Jones" and "Song of Freedom" to his principled rejection of Hollywood after racist portrayals in "Sanders of the River" and "Tales of Manhattan." The essays reveal Robeson's evolution into a formidable political intellectual who challenged fascism, advocated for workers and oppressed minorities worldwide, and became America's most vocal critic of postwar racism. The scholars confront how Cold War hysteria and his defense of the Soviet Union allowed McCarthyites and government officials to destroy his reputation. Published on Robeson's birth centenary, this assessment seeks to restore understanding of his achievements and illuminate the full scope of his cultural and political contributions to American history.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, african-american, non-fiction
Vibes: historical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure, social-justice
Setting: Rutgers, Harlem, Europe
Period: Harlem Renaissance, Cold War
331 pages · Paperback · Rutgers University Press