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Paul Robeson Facts & Worksheets

Paul Robeson was a famous African-American singer, actor, civil rights activist, and star athlete.

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Paul Robeson was a well-known African-American athlete, musician, actor, and campaigner for global civil rights. He rose to fame during a period in the United States when segregation was legal and Black people were killed by racist mobs, particularly in the South. He was a pivotal figure in political action, vigorously opposing the Spanish Civil War, fascism, and social injustice. Posthumously, Robeson received several essential accolades for his achievements as an actor and activist.

See the fact file below for more information on Paul Robeson, or you can download our 23-page Paul Robeson worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Early Life and Education

  • Paul Robeson was born and grew up in 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey. His father fled enslavement to become a Presbyterian clergyman, while his mother came from a prominent Philadelphia family. Following his father’s resignation as rector and his mother’s death in a home fire, young Robeson experienced a life of poverty and misery.
  • Robeson was a student at Somerville High School in Somerville, New Jersey. He excelled at football, basketball, baseball, and track and field, owing to his athletic physique and love of sports. 
  • He received an academic scholarship to Rutgers University and became the third African-American student in 1915. He excelled in extracurricular activities such as debate, Glee Club, and collegiate athletics. He was honored for his intellectual, vocal, and athletic abilities.
  • He earned varsity letters in many sports and four yearly oratorical victories before leaving the institution in 1919. He was the valedictorian of his class. He started attending the New York University School of Law in 1919. 
  • He accepted a job as an assistant football coach in Lincoln in order to make a living. His time at NYU was brief, though, as he transferred to Columbia Law School in 1920.
  • Robeson taught Latin and played professional football while attending Columbia University’s law school from 1920 to 1923. He married journalist Eslanda Goode, a fellow Columbia student, in 1921 and had Paul Robeson Jr. in 1927.
  • In 1923, Robeson practiced law for a short time before leaving the profession due to intense racism at his business. He went totally to the stage with the help of Eslanda, who would later become his manager.

Acting and Singing Career

  • He played Jim in Eugene O’Neill’s “All God’s Chillun Got Wings” and Brutus in the revival of “The Emperor Jones” in 1924, among other early parts. Both roles were warmly accepted and earned favorable critical feedback. 
  • His early achievement propelled him into the public eye and stardom. His wife left her job to work as his agent, which increased his star power even more. In the silent movie “Body and Soul,” she helped him land his first acting part.
  • He resumed performing in 1928, appearing at the Theatre Royal as Joe in the American musical “Show Boat.” The production ran for 350 performances, making it the most successful endeavor. 
  • The popularity of his song “Old Man River” grew concurrently. 
  • He was invited to play at a Royal Command Performance at Buckingham Palace as a result of his tremendous popularity.
  • He and his wife appeared in the groundbreaking experimental film “Borderline” in the early 1930s. Afterward, he returned to the West End to play Othello alongside Peggy Ashcroft. He returned his Joe persona for the Broadway production of “Show Boat” in 1932. He later played Brutus again in the film adaptation of “The Emperor Jones.”  
  • Following that, he appeared in the 1935 picture ‘Sanders of the River.’ He played the character of Bosambo in the film. Though the film cemented his fame as an international celebrity, it also sparked considerable controversy due to his portrayal of a colonial African.
  • Robeson also acted in films, namely “Sanders of the River” (1935), “Show Boat” (1936), “Song of Freedom” (1936), and “The Proud Valley” (1940), with special appearances in the documentary “Native Land” (1942) and the film “Tales of Manhattan” (1942).

Political Activism

  • He became a political activist after the Spanish War broke out and began promoting the Republican cause through his musical appearances. He went to Spain in 1938 to give Republicans some inspiration. He later changed his job to focus on the struggles of the average person.
  • Robeson returned to the U.S. when World War II broke out to perform as a showman. 
  • He created great radio shows and films. After performing in “Tales in Manhattan,” he withdrew from the film industry due to the humiliating parts that were available for black people actors. 
  • He performed Othello at the Shubert Theatre again in 1943, making him the first African-American to portray the part on Broadway with a white supporting cast. He also actively spoke out against lynching and segregation.
  • Robeson questioned why Black people should serve in a racist country’s military in public. His outspokenness led the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to charge him with being a Communist. Robeson claimed that this was an assault on the democratic rights of everyone who spoke for peace and equality on a global scale.
  • In 1946, he also founded the American Crusade Against Lynching. He pleaded with the people to exert pressure on Congress to enact civil rights legislation. Because of his anti-colonial activities and affection for the black racial group, he was perceived as a threat to American democracy.
  • After many attempts to persuade him to abandon his activity, his passport was revoked in 1950 because he was considered a danger to national security, preventing him from traveling overseas. He fought legal fights for the best part of the following decade. 

Honors and Awards

  • He received the International Stalin Prize from the USSR in 1952.
  • He was given many honors after his death, including the Spingarn Medal, the Donaldson Award, the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and the Academy Award.
  • In 1995, he was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame.
  • He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in the 100th year of his birth.
  • You can see his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Death & Legacy

  • He struggled for eight years before succeeding in getting his passport back. After that, he began traveling and presenting performances in England and Australia. But his suffering resulted in drug addiction, attempted suicide, and a psychological breakdown. He was treated at a London hospital.
  • After coming home, he stopped performing live and only offered sporadic performances. He gradually withdrew from public life due to his declining health and diminished abilities as an orator and vocalist. His last years were largely spent in solitude.
  • Robeson’s autobiography, entitled “Here I Stand”, was published in 1958.
  • His cardiac issues caused his health to start drastically declining in 1960. He experienced several health issues in the second part of his life before passing away on January 23, 1976, due to complications from a stroke.
  • A funeral was held at his brother’s church, Mother AME Zion, where he was put to rest. He was buried in Hartsdale, New York’s Ferncliff Cemetery.
  • Several public and private institutions were named in his honor following his passing. Prestigious institutions, including the Academy of Arts, Howard University, and the Schomburg Center, hold collections of his works.
  • The US Postal Service recognized him with a 37-cent stamp. Criterion Collection, a business specializing in publishing unique edition copies of classic and modern films, also published his movies as a DVD boxed set.
  • He utilized his music to support labor and social movements, spread awareness of various cultures, and advance the rights of black Americans. He was a linguist who performed songs supporting human rights and international peace in 25 languages, including Chinese, Russian, and numerous African tongues.

Paul Robeson Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Paul Robeson across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Paul Robeson worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Paul Robeson, who was a famous African-American singer, actor, civil rights activist, and star athlete. He was known for his theatrical success, political activism, and his participation in the Harlem Renaissance.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Paul Robeson Facts
  • Fact List
  • Paul in Film
  • Name Significance
  • International Acclaim
  • Famous Baritone
  • Popular Artists
  • Paul Goes Political
  • Word Search
  • Words of Wisdom
  • Brief Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

What Paul Robeson is famous for?

Paul Robeson was a well-known African-American athlete, musician, actor, and campaigner for global civil rights. He rose to fame during a period in the United States when segregation was legal and Black people were killed by racist mobs, particularly in the South. He was a pivotal figure in political action, vigorously opposing the Spanish Civil War, fascism, and social injustice. Posthumously, Robeson received several essential accolades for his achievements as an actor and activist.

Why was Paul Robeson accused?

Robeson publicly questioned why African-Americans should fight in the army of a racist nation. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) charged him with being a Communist because of his outspokenness. This, according to Robeson, was an attack on the democratic rights of everyone who campaigned for worldwide friendship and equality.

How did Paul Robeson change the world?

He utilized his music to support labor and social movements of his period, spread awareness of various cultures, and advance the rights of black Americans. He was a linguist who performed songs supporting human rights and international peace in 25 languages, including Chinese, Russian, and numerous African tongues.

What did Paul Robeson died from?

His cardiac issues caused his health to start drastically declining in 1960. He experienced several health issues in the second part of his life before passing away on January 23, 1976, due to complications from a stroke.

When was Paul Robeson’s passport revoked?

After many attempts to persuade him to abandon his activity, his passport was revoked in 1950 because he was considered a danger to national security, preventing him from traveling overseas. He fought legal fights for the best part of the following decade.

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Use With Any Curriculum

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