Robeson's Legacy

Paul Robeson stamp, first issued on January 20, 2004, in Princeton, NJ, United States Postal Service.

While it can be seen as a result of the controversy accrued during the course of his life, the legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson does not nearly equal the accomplishments and commitment to social justice that he displayed during the course of his life. Compared to other figures committed to activism in the way that Robeson was, it is difficult to find a large body of literature which acknowledges the full breath of this renaissance figure.

In spite of arguments that Robeson has fallen into a sort of obscurity, he has left a legacy which can be seen in many spaces. In 1973, for Robeson’s 75th birthday, Harry Belafonte hosted a Salute to Paul Robeson at Carnegie Hall. In Paul Robeson, Jr.’s biography of his father, he notes that he believes this gala was the beginning of the return of his father to “America’s cultural mainstream.” This celebration also provided the funding for the creation of the Paul Robeson Archives.

Other evidence of Robeson’s legacy is seen in his induction into the Rutgers Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He is also a member of the National Theater Hall of Fame. In 1998 he was also posthumously honored with a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement.

Additionally, Robeson has been celebrated in the arts with several poems written about his legacy, and a two-act biographical play written by Phillip Hayes Dean in 1979. In January of 2004, Robeson became the 27th individual to be celebrated by the United States Postal Service in their Black Heritage stamp series.

Two biographies of Robeson were also published in 2001, including one by his son, Paul Robeson, Jr., celebrating the legacy of this figure. With all of the posthumous accolades that have been bestowed upon Paul Robeson, it is necessary for us to continue to celebrate the legacy of Paul Robeson, both as a figure in the world of entertainment, but also a figure committed to activism and the fight for social justice.

Evaluating Robeson's Activism

Robeson's ideas show that he was influenced by Marxism, USSR, and various other Communist/Socialist movements around the world during his lifetime. However, his political consciousness was grounded in the liberation struggle of African-Americans in the United States. He constantly articulated that the African-American struggle was a part of a worldwide fight against imperialism, racism, and facism. This internationalist perspective holds deep roots in African-American politics, from Martin Delaney to Marcus Garvey to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. However, we do not hear much from Robeson on issues outside of a Marxist, African-American rooted, analysis.

Methodologically, Robeson does not necessarily provide a model for activism that could be followed by all. Much of his ability to get his message heard and travel was supported by the material priveleges of his education and singing and acting career. However, this shouldn't discredit Robeson. Others without such personal resources have made their voices heard as well, and Robeson shows how one could use their material resources to help liberation struggles. Not being poor does not mean one is alienated from and cannot work with poor people. We also do not find in Robeson the same kind of focus on grassroots organizing like we do in Ella Baker, or the kind of specific plans for transformation that George Jackson offers. Robeson does, however, serve as someone who "spread the message" and supported specific struggles, which is crucial in and of itself.