God gave me the voice that people want to hear, Paul Robeson, the great African American singer, actor and activist, told the Black newspaper The New York Age in a 1949 interview.
Robeson's powerful advocacy for the rights of Black and working-class Americans made him a hero, but his political leanings put him at odds with anti-Communist forces in Congress, impeding his career.
Robeson's global fame was hindered when his U.S. passport was revoked due to his refusal to disavow membership in the Communist Party, leading to a confrontation with the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956.
Despite facing political persecution and income loss during the red-baiting years, Robeson's enduring legacy lies in his bass-baritone voice and his ability to spark conversations on peace and justice through his fame.
Collection
[
|
...
]