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Posthumous Recognition of Paul Robeson
January 27, 1976
Two thousand, five hundred attend funeral at Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem. At least an equal number stand outside, in freezing rain, throughout the service, listening on the public address system, as speaker after speaker pays tribute to Robeson for his integrity and tremendous courage in the face of extreme adversity.
January 28, 1976
Memorial tribute held in US House of Representatives.
February 6, 1976
Rutgers University holds memorial tribute.
April, 1976
· Two-day National Conference on Paul Robeson is hosted by African Studies and Research Center of Purdue University, Indiana. Lloyd L. Brown's speech, "Paul Robeson Rediscovered," is published as an Occasional Paper, by the American Institute of Marxist Studies.
· Memorial concert held in Athens, Greece, under auspices of World Peace Council.
April 9, 1976
Ceremony is held to dedicate the new Paul Robeson Instructional Materials Center at the Avery D. Harrington Public School, in Philadelphia. School principal states, "It is appropriate the Paul Robeson's name should grace a place for growing minds, books and learning. His accomplishments personify a love of knowledge and a respect for all that is precious in the human spirit."
April 25, 1976
Memorial tribute at 800-seat Harbord Auditorium, Toronto, includes seventy Canadian performers and Earl Robinson (American composer of “Joe Hill” and “Ballad for Americans”), with 50% of proceeds going to the Paul Robeson Archives and 50% to the Black Theatre Canada.
April 30, 1976
Memorial tribute at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, DC, includes representatives from many countries and international as well as American organizations.
May 16, 1976
Memorial concert held at Columbia University, New York City.
June, 1976
Public School No. 191 in Brooklyn is renamed in Robeson’s honor.
July, 1976
Street in Princeton, NJ is renamed in Robeson’s honor.
October 8, 1976
“Artists’ Tribute to the Life of Paul Robeson,” is held at Carnegie Hall, as benefit for the Paul Robeson Archive. Sidney Poitier reflects the feelings of the audience when he proclaims, “When Paul Robeson died, it marked the passing of a magnificent giant whose presence among us conferred nobility upon us all….a dedicated humanist….our debt to Paul.”
Late 1976
Actors’ Equity holds memorial celebration of Robeson’s life at Music Center, Los Angeles.
1977
· Paul Robeson Cultural Center is established at Penn State University.
· Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center is established at Central State University, Wilberforce, OH.
· Paul Robeson International Film Festival is established as annual event at University of Pennsylvania.
· Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame establishes Paul Robeson Medal of Distinction; first award goes to Alice Childress.
February, 1977
Black students at Columbia University Law School establish Paul Robeson Scholarship for minority and legal studies.
April 17, 1977
“A Tribute to Paul Robeson” is held at the Central Technical School, Toronto, Canada, co-sponsored by the Paul Robeson Commemorative Committee and the African National Congress, of South Africa.
December, 1977
Ad Hoc Committee to End the Crimes Against Paul Robeson is formed to protest the inaccurate portrayal of Robeson in a new play by Philip Hayes Dean.
1978
· Editors of Freedomways, expand 1971, first-quarter special issue into full-length book, Paul Robeson: The Great Forerunner, which focuses on his role as a pioneer, a ground-breaker and trail-blazer decades before the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
· Soviet Union names 40,000-ton tanker in honor of Robeson.
· Department of Social Studies of the Detroit Public Schools publishes 76-page curriculum booklet, chronicling Robeson’s life, with suggested instructional activities.
January 1978
Paul Robeson, a one-character play based on his life, written by Philip Hayes Dean, after having been performed in several cities the previous Fall, opens on Broadway, starring James Earl Jones. Play draws public protest from many highly prominent African American artists, writers, intellectuals, educators and significant religious and political leaders. The play is denounced as “a pernicious perversion of the essence of Paul Robeson,” which subordinates his political radicalism to his humanism. There are charges and counter-charges, and the controversy escalates, as articles and letters appear in many newspapers and magazines for several months.
February, 1978
Paul Robeson Lecture Series is established at Medgar Evers College, City University of New York.
April, 1978
· Commemoration of 80th birthday, held in New York.
· Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic publishes 65-page booklet, Paul Robeson: For His 80th Birthday, containing tributes by many world-renown individuals.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Paul Robeson Speaks:
Writings, Speeches, Interviews, 1918-1974, by Philip S. Foner, is
published.
April 9, 1978
“An Evening with Paul Robeson: 80th Birthday Celebration,” is held at Ford Auditorium, sponsored by The Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI. This kick-off for a week of celebration events features speakers Mayor Coleman A. Young, Paul Robeson, Jr., Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher (Gary, IN), and several musical and dance performances.
April 9, 1978
Sunday morning service at First Unitarian Church, Los Angeles, is dedicated to Robeson. City Councilman David Cunningham reads out “Paul Robeson Day” City of Los Angeles Proclamation signed by Mayor Tom Bradley and himself. A group of “Negro Spirituals” and labor songs is performed by Earldon Scales.
April 9-16, 1978
Paul Robeson Commemorative Week, with eight events, is held in Detroit, under joint sponsorship of Wayne State University and The Museum of African American History of Detroit.
April 10, 1978
United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid holds conference on “Dimensions in the Struggle Against Apartheid: A Tribute to Paul Robeson.” Dozens of representatives of governments, labor leaders from around the world and fighters for Black freedom in the US rise to salute Robeson on the 80th anniversary of his birth, paying tribute to him for his pioneering and relentless work in the struggles against racism and colonial oppression.
April 23, 1978
Celebration of 80th birthday, held at First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, attended by 1200. Program, hosted by Dr. Stephen H. Fritchman, includes Maya Angelou, William Marshall, Earl Robinson, Paul Winfield, Frances E. Williams, Professor Don Wheeldin, Attorney Raymond W. Cannon and then-member of Los Angeles Unified School District, Diane E. Watson.
April 28, 1978
Tribute to Robeson’s 80th birthday, “Paul Robeson: Revolutionary Fighter,” is held in Havana, Cuba.
November 28, 1978
Professor Sterling Stuckey delivers lecture on "The Impact of Paul Robeson in the Caribbean," at Laney College, Oakland, CA.
December 16, 1978
“Youth Salute to Paul Robeson” concert is held at Felt Forum, NYC, sponsored by the Young Workers’ Liberation League.
1979
First quarter issue of Freedomways carries article "Youth Salute to Paul Robeson," by James Steele.
“Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist,” documentary on Robeson’s life, narrated by Sidney Poitier, wins Academy Award OSCAR for Best Documentary (Short
Subjects). Program speakers include Mayor Tom Bradley, Sidney Poitier, Senator Diane Watson. Brock Peters, Isobel Sanford, Jackie Cooper and Stevie Wonder join other celebrities and about 500 more who come to pay homage to Robeson, spilling into the street and stopping traffic for two hours on Hollywood
Boulevard.
April 9, 1979
After more than a year of public controversy and protest following the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s initial rejection of application for a Paul Robeson “star” on Hollywood Boulevard’s “Walk of Fame,” star is implanted and public dedication ceremony is held. (Original application was co-sponsored by Actors’ Equity and Screen Actors’ Guild.)
May 6, 1979
Cultural and Ethnic Arts Guild and Merritt-Vista Colleges of Peralta Community College District present tribute to Robeson at Oakland Museum; program is third in a series honoring Robeson.
1980
· Is inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, although he is not awarded a GRAMMY until eighteen years later.
· St. Paul Public School District publishes Paul Robeson Curriculum Guide: For Grades 4-9.
· Paul Robeson: Biography of a Proud Man, by Joseph Nazel, is published in Los Angeles.
1981
The Whole World in His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson, by Susan Robeson, his granddaughter, is published.
April 26, 1981
Tribute to Robeson held at Castlemont High School, Oakland, CA, with guest speaker Paul Robeson, Jr.
April 27, 1981
"Borderline," Robeson's 1924 Oscar Micheaux silent film is screened at Pacific Film Archives.
April 28, 1981
Tribute to Robeson held at University of California, Berkeley, with guest speaker Paul Robeson, Jr. and showing of "Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist," a 29-minute documentary, narrated by Sidney Poitier, produced by Gil Noble, 1979.
1982
Greenwood Press publishes A Paul Robeson Research Guide, compiled by Lenwood G. Davis.
February 21, 1982
“Paul Robeson’s Granddaughter Recalls Him as Gentle Storyteller,” article is published in the Washington Post, about the publication of Susan Robeson’s book The Whole World in His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson.
April 8, 1983
The Chicago Tribune publishes article, "Paul Robeson: A Scholar of Note," by Vernon Jarrett, who stresses that "Robeson was first and foremost a scholar. At Rutgers, his scholastic excellence earned him a Phi Beta Kappa key and he was the valedictorian of his class….Let it never be ignored that Paul Robeson was a scholar before he was anything else of note. It is Robeson the scholar who should be presented to this generation of youngsters who are in need of good role models."
1984
Dr. Charles H. Wright, MD, founder of the Museum of African American History of Detroit, publishes The Peace Advocacy of Paul Robeson.
May 2-5, 1984
"Let My People Go!" is a one-man dramatic recreation of Robeson's life, performed by Joe Carter, at the Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley, CA.
1985
The Black American Cinema Society establishes annual Paul Robeson Pioneer Award, “to recognize individuals whose work exemplifies talent and professionalism throughout the years and who have served as pioneers in the motion picture and television industry."
January 30, 1985
“Rebels: Paul Robeson,” a one-hour radio program is broadcast on BBC Radio, UK.
April 9, 1985
Salute to Paul Robeson, at Gary, Indiana Public Library features Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher and Professors Jan Carew and Dennis Brutus, both of Northwestern University.
1986
Charlotte Turner Bell publishes book, Paul Robeson's Last Days in Philadelphia, based on her friendship with Robeson and his sister as his private accompanist during the final ten years of his life. Autograph party, held on September 13, 1986 at St. Phillip’s Lutheran Church, Philadelphia is attended by 300. The author states she decided to write a factual account to dispute "the totally misleading" picture painted by the mass media of a sick, lonely and feeble-minded man. "So, I decided to set the record straight….[H]e lived a full and happy private life with his family and close friends."
1987
Paul Robeson: The Man and His Mission, by Ron Ramdin, is published in London.
February
25, 1987
The
Christian Science Monitor
publishes article on Robeson entitled “Choosing Heroes: A Lesson in
American Black History,” by Hosea L. Martin.
April 1-11, 1987
“Deep Bells Ring: The Life and Songs of Paul Robeson,” a musical tribute is sponsored by the Building Workers Industrial Union,
Queensland, Australia.
1988
· Is inducted into the Rutgers University Football Hall of Fame.
· Here I Stand is reprinted, with new Introduction by Robeson scholar, Professor Sterling Stuckey.
April, 1988
San Francisco Bay Area Peace Council holds “90th Birthday Tribute to Paul Robeson,” in Berkeley, CA.
April 7-17, 1988
Ten-day “90th Birthday Tribute to Paul Robeson” is held in Philadelphia.
October 30, 1988
Notable performers and celebrities present a multi-media dramatic tribute to Robeson at New York's Shubert Theater as a benefit for the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture. Participants include then-President of the Manhattan Borrough David Dinkins, Bill Cosby, Lena Horne, Toni Morrison, Sidney Poitier, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Christopher Reeve, Max Roach, Estelle Parsons, Morgan Freeman, Christopher Plummer.
1989
Paul Robeson: A Biography, by Martin Bauml Duberman, is published. It is the most comprehensive biography of Robeson thus far.
April 9, 1989
Sun Reporter Newspaper, San Francisco's African American weekly, holds "Tribute to Paul Robeson."
April 27, 1989
The New York Review publishes four-page review of Paul Robeson, by Martin Duberman.
April 14, 1991
Paul Robeson Community Center, Los Angeles, holds "Tribute to Paul Robeson."
April 9-11, 1993
Community College of Philadelphia holds Paul Robeson 95th Birthday
Celebration.
May 25, 1994
Board of Education of the Oakland Unified School District (California) adopts resolution to name the district administration building in honor of Robeson.
July, 1994
West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance purchases Robeson’s final residence; transforms house into tribute to the man, a mecca for the community and home for arts programs. In lot, across street from Robeson House, new park being created in Robeson’s name, including 7-foot statue, all to be completed before the Centennial anniversary.
January 18, 1995
After five decades of exclusion for political reasons, is inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, in long-overdue step taken by National Football Foundation.
December, 1995
“Powerful Voice for the Dignity of All People,” is an article published (in German) in Zeitung der Schweizerischen Friedensbewegung, newspaper of the Swiss Peace Movement, on the occasion of the upcoming 20th Anniversary of Robeson’s
death.
February 11, 1996
“Paul Robeson, 1898-1976,” article appears in The Courant, a Connecticut newspaper.
April 9, 1996
District of Columbia Public Schools hold "Paul Robeson Day" activities.
April 20, 1996
Harry Belafonte, speaking in New York City to the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Brigade’s arrival in Spain, says of Robeson: “And it was from Paul that I learned that the purpose of art is not just to show life as it is, but to show life as it should be. And if art were put into the service of the human family, it could only enhance their betterment.”
1997
· Committees are formed in several US cities and around the world to plan celebrations of Robeson’s April 9, 1998 centennial birthday. Committees in US also circulate petitions asking the US Postal Service to issue a postage stamp honoring Robeson. Despite over 90,000 signatures submitted, the USPS does not publish a Robeson stamp.
· Pennsylvania State University breaks ground for new cultural center dedicated to Robeson, scheduled to open in 1998.
· The Young Paul Robeson: On My Journey Now, by Lloyd L. Brown, is published.
· New Jersey Network, Public Television, produces 1-hour documentary on Robeson, entitled "The Life and Times of Paul Robeson."
.
Paul
Robeson 100th Birthday Committee and Columbia College
Chicago publish booklet, Paul Robeson’s Living Legacy.
*“Paul Robeson: Voice of a Century,” article by Paul Robeson, Jr., is published in The Black Collegian Online.
February 1997
Monthly issue of Schweizerische Sanger-Zeitung (Swiss Singers Newspaper), published by the Swiss Labor Chorus, with article (in German), “Honoring Paul Robeson,” states that the chorus plans to take advantage of the 100th birthday of Robeson to help bring more awareness of his life by their participation in the 1998 Festival of Choirs, in Vaasa, Finland. For this occasion, the chorus adds Robeson’s songs to their repertoire.
February 4, 1997
Film screening of The Emperor Jones is part of exhibition "Rhapsodies in Black: Art of the Harlem Renaissance" at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco.
March 3, 1997
The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes article "In Full Flower: Paul Robeson, actor, singer, athlete and casualty of the McCarthy era, is finally being recognized for what he was: a man dedicated…to the worldwide cause of humanity."
April 9, 1997
Day is proclaimed Paul Robeson Day in District of Columbia Public Schools, with programs and activities related to Robeson on March 21, April 4 and April 11.
April 20, 1997
“Remembering Paul Robeson: A Choral Reading,” is held at the Third Unitarian Church,
Chicago.
April 22, 1997
Article on Joe Louis, in The New York Times, quotes him from an early 1970s interview as saying, “I think Paul Robeson did more for the Negroes than anyone else, even though someone like King did a lot.”
June
16, 1997
Alameda County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alameda County, adopts
Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial
Committee.
June
17, 1997
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of
efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
August, 1997
. American Federation of Musicians, Local 153, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· American Postal Workers Union, Local 47, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· American Postal Workers Union, San Francisco, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· East Bay Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
August 7, 1997
Sun Reporter publishes "Conversations with Paul Robeson,"
by Editor, Thomas C. Fleming.
August 28, 1997
Federation of Retired Union Members, Alameda County, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
September, 1997
· Federation of Retired Union Members, San Francisco, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Fremont Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1494, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· United Farm workers of America, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
October, 1997
· Bay Area Typographical Union, CWA Local 21, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Peralta Federation of Teachers, AFT, Local 1603, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Theatrical Employees Union, IATSE Local 1-B-18, San Francisco, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
Article (in German) appears in October issues of Schweizerische Sanger-Zeitung (Swiss Singers Newspaper), published by the Swiss Labor Chorus, and Unsere Welt (Our World), Zeitung der Schweizerischen Friedensbewegung (Newspaper of the Swiss Peace Movement, “Paul Robeson and Switzerland,” about the 1930 ten-day visit to Switzerland by Robeson and his wife, Eslanda, where they both starred in the silent film Borderline and then toured several Swiss towns.
October 8, 1997
Oakland AFT Local 771, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
October 20, 1997
Actors Equity Association, Bay Area, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
October 31, 1997
Somerville, NJ, Robeson’s home from 1910 to 1918, kicks off Centennial observance with a celebration at a football game at his alma mater, Somerville High School.
· California State University, Hayward, Library mounts multi-media Robeson exhibit. Bay Area Joint Council 2, SEIU, AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee. Berkeley Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1078, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee. Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee. Health Care Workers’ Union, SEIU Local 250, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
November, 1997
· Bay Area Joint Council 2, SEIU, AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Berkeley Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1078, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
· Health Care Workers’ Union, SEIU Local 250, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee.
November 1, 1997
The world premiere of "Ballad for Americans: Stand in the Light" is the official kick-off of the year-long "Philadelphia Celebrates Robeson." The program, commissioned and presented by the American Music Theater Festival, in association with the Paul Robeson House, of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, is based on the work of 170 Philadelphia middle school students.
November 7, 1997
San Francisco Chronicle publishes two-page article on Robeson and the upcoming Centennial.
November 10 & 11, 1997
BBC Radio airs two 30-minute specials on the life of Paul Robeson.
December 9, 1997
Resolution passed by City Council of Pittsburgh, PA, in support of Robeson Centennial celebrations.
December 10, 1997
Santa Cruz Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, adopts Resolution in support of efforts by Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee
December 14, 1997
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California holds annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration. Program includes tribute to Robeson, with slides and commentary.
December 18-31, 1997
"Paul Robeson," by Phillip Hayes Dean, returns to the stage, this time starring Avery Brooks, at the Longacre Theatre, New York City.
1998-1999
Rutgers University’s 2,000-square foot, multi-media Robeson exhibition opens first on Rutgers’ Camden campus, April 5-July 31, 1998, then travels to the California African American Museum, in Los Angeles, September 10-December 31, 1998, the Smithsonian, in Washington, DC, February 1-April 30, 1999, and the Museum of the City of New York, June 1-September 30, 1999. Rutgers University Press publishes large-format companion book, with photos and an extensive biography, Paul Robeson: Artist and Citizen. In each city, several special Robeson events accompany the exhibition: musical and dramatic programs, lectures and panel discussions, concerts, film screenings, day-long conferences, programs for school children, walking tours of Robeson sites.
1998
· Over 400 hundred Robeson Centennial celebrations take place in cities throughout the US and Canada and around the world and many new honors are bestowed upon him; many Robeson exhibits are mounted in museums, libraries, schools; many articles on Robeson appear in newspapers and magazines; more documentary films on his life are produced; his films are shown at many film festivals; his musical recordings are re-mastered on CDs. The tributes are too numerous to be cited here; some highlights are given below. For details, see website of Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee of Chicago:
http://pobox.com/~robeson/.
· Governor Christine Todd Whitman proclaims 1998 "Paul Robeson Year in New Jersey."
· Lenwood G. Davis publishes A Paul Robeson Handbook: Everything You Want to Know About Paul Robeson.
· February/March issue of American Visions magazine carries five-page article written by Robeson scholar Dr. Charles L.
Blockson.
· April/May issue of NAACP's The Crisis carries two-page article, "Paul Robeson: American Icon and Brother to His People," by Vernon Jarrett.
· May issue of Ebony magazine contains article on Robeson Centennial.
January February, 1998
Outlook: Canada’s Progressive Jewish Magazine publishes article, “Paul Robeson—A Great Human Being,”
January 9-April 25, 1998
American Labor Museum, Haledon, NJ, holds exhibition, "Paul Robeson: A Political Portrait, 1948-1959," documenting Robeson's political activism in the US, Australia, England, Germany and the USSR.
January 11, 1998
Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee holds its first event, "An Afternoon of Music and Poetry in Honor of Paul Robeson," at the Northbrae Community Church, Berkeley, CA. Over 300 attend, braving a torrential downpour.
January 21, 1998
San Francisco Unitarian Universalist Church holds annual Black History Dinner and Program, "Celebration of the Life of Paul Robeson."
January 30-June 30, 1998
Detroit’s Museum of African American History holds exhibition, "Life and Times of Paul Robeson."
February, 1998
Free Radio Berkeley begins weekly series of 24 one-hour programs on Robeson.
February/March 1998
American Visions, The Magazine of Afro-American Culture, publishes five-page article “Paul Robeson: Melody of Freedom,” by Charles L. Blockson, curator of African American Collection at Temple University, Philadelphia, and full-page listing of Robeson Centennial events scheduled in 1998 throughout the country.
February 1, 1998
“Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: The Life and Times of Paul Robeson,” an all-day conference is held at the Robeson Campus Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.
February 1-3, 1998
PBS airs "I'll Make Me A World: A Century of African American Artists," a six-hour documentary, of which approximately one hour is on Robeson.
February 2-27, 1998
Paul Robeson Academy, Detroit Public School District, sponsors several Robeson centennial events.
February 2, 1998
New York University, the Tamiment Library and Actors’ Equity Association’s Committee for Racial Equality hold “A Celebration of Paul Robeson,” at
NYU.
February 3, 1998
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation airs radio documentary on the life of Paul Robeson.
February 4, 1998
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame screens The Emperor Jones at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco.
February 7, 1998
* WCHB-Radio, Detroit, airs "Paul Robeson Hour."
· A musical tribute to Robeson is held at The Folklife Center International House, Philadelphia.
February 8-22, 1998
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, San Francisco, presents "Lift Every Voice: A Centennial Tribute to Paul Robeson," in a variety of musical, dramatic and dance performances.
February 8, 1998
Annual Meeting of the Swiss Peace Movement honors Robeson with speech and film showing, in Basel, Switzerland.
February 9, 1998
Chicago Oral History Roundtable holds forum, "African American History Month: Paul Robeson Lives!"
February 9-May 2, 1998
From These Roots, a narrative and pictorial traveling exhibit on Robeson’s life and achievements, curated by Charles Blockson, is held at the Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden,
NJ.
February 14, 1998
The Ralph Penn Trio performs “Jazz, Our Real Heritage: Reflections on Paul Robeson,” at the Paul
Robeson House, Philadelphia.
February 15, 1998
African American Center of the San Francisco Public Library presents program on "Paul Robeson and the United Nations
Genocide Petition," as part of a year-long series sponsored by Amnesty International, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
February 18, 1998
*Beginning of 8-week course, "Paul Robeson: A Life and a Legacy," at Columbia College, Chicago.
·
“Paul
Robeson: The Philadelphia Connection,” a program on the role of
Philadelphia in the life of Robeson, at the Paul Robeson House,
Philadelphia.
February 22, 1998
“The Tallest Tree in Our Forest: Paul Robeson and the Meaning of His Life for Today,” African American History Month celebration is sponsored by People’s Weekly World newspaper, New Haven, CT.
February 25, 1998
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awards Robeson the Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY. Ceremony, at Radio City Music Hall, is broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV.
*Living Arts section of The New York Times carries article “Robeson’s Remarkable Life Story Told Again.”
February 27, 1998
Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Los Angeles, holds "Tribute to African American Hollywood Stars: Paul Robeson, Renaissance Man." Also hosts public Robeson exhibition through April 30.
February 28, 1998
Long Island University holds all-day conference to celebrate the Robeson centennial. All aspects of his life and legacy are examined in papers presented by Robeson scholars to the over-400 participants. The occasion is capped by a performance of Ballad for Americans and other Robeson songs by the New York City Labor Chorus and New York's All-City High School Orchestra.
February 29, 1998
Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit, holds Paul Robeson Oration.
March 1, 1998
San Francisco Bay Area Post of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade presents "Paul Robeson: The Artist Must Take Sides" in tribute to the great anti-fascist hero. Program consists of dramatic performance by the San Francisco Mime Troupe, with slides and commentary, and keynote speaker Professor Sterling Stuckey.
March 3, 1998
“Paul Robeson: the Philadelphia Connection,” is a lecture sponsored by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
March 9-May 2, 1998
Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University Camden Campus, hosts photographic exhibition, "Paul Robeson--A Political Portrait, 1948-1959," with 41 photographs documenting the political activities of Rutgers' most distinguished alumnus.
March 8-14, 1998
Paul Robeson Centennial Exhibit is staged at Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, Australia.
March 16, 1998
JET Magazine publishes articles on the awarding of the GRAMMY to Paul Robeson.
March 19, 1998
A musical program celebrating the life and career of Paul Robeson, for children of Philadelphia schools, is held at the Settlement Music School.
March 20 and April 3, 1998
“Voice of a Patriot,” a program of “Songs, oration and dramatic presentation to present Robeson’s life and achievements in the context of modern history,” is held at Rutgers University, Camden, NJ.
March 26, 1998
Music Department, Laney College, Oakland, hosts Paul Robeson Centennial Celebration, featuring guest speaker Lloyd L. Brown, with baritone Prentice Phillips and William Duncan Allen at the piano.
March 27, 1998
Oakland East Bay Symphony, under the direction of Michael Morgan, gives concert, "Ballad for Americans," in salute to Robeson, with Lloyd Brown as pre-concert speaker, at historic Paramount Theater, Oakland, CA.
Also participating in the performance are the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland Youth Chorus and Laney College Concert Chorale.
March 28, 1998
. The Sports Image Educational Foundation honors Robeson with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award, at Herbst Theater, San Francisco. Award is given to athletes who have given time and effort to better their community.
. Lloyd L. Brown speaks at Paul Robeson Centennial Celebration at African American Community Service Agency, San Jose, CA.
March 28-29, 1998
“Paul Robeson, All American,” an original new play intended for audiences age 10 and over, written by veteran actor Ossie Davis, has debut performance at the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University.
March 29, 1998
· Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts presents concert, "Robeson in Song," with several choral groups performing selections from Robeson's repertoire.
· Center for Marxist Education holds tribute, "Remember Paul Robeson," in Cambridge, MA.
March 31, 1998
· “Worship Service in Celebration of the Life of Paul Robeson” is held at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
· The New Jersey Performing Arts Center screens video “Speak Of Me As I Am,” followed by panel discussion.
April, 1998
· “Paul Robeson: Icon for the 21st Century,” article by John Hope Franklin, is published in Emerge magazine.
· National Film Theatre, London, commemorates Robeson’s centennial in a month-long retrospective, with screenings of his films, forums and seminars.
April 1 through July 12, 1998
The New York Historical Society holds exhibition sponsored by the Paul Robeson Foundation, "Paul Robeson: Bearer of a Culture," and hosts fifteen public programs, including screenings of his films, panel discussions, concerts, talks by Robeson scholars and walking tours of "Paul Robeson's Harlem."
April 2, 1998
Panel discussion with Susan Robeson, filmmaker, author and granddaughter of Paul Robeson, leads off five-week film festival co-sponsored by Columbia College and the Harold Washington Archives and Collections of the Chicago Public Library.
April 2-19, 1998
The Free Library of Philadelphia hosts “Paul Robeson In Philadelphia and Beyond: A Centennial Exhibition, 1898-1998.”
April 2-30, 1998
WYBE-TV, Philadelphia, screens Robeson films every Thursday.
April 4, 1998
· "Paul Robeson: All American," play by Ossie Davis, is performed at the South Jersey Performing Arts Center, Camden, NJ.
· Hyde Park Youth Symphony and Chicago Children's Choir perform in concert to celebrate Robeson Centennial.
*
Paul
Robeson Centennial Concert is sponsored by the Bridgend County Borough
Council, Portcawl, Wales, UK.
April 5, 1998
Detroit Museum of African American History holds "Robeson Gala Dinner and Theatre."
April 5-July 31, 1998
“Paul Robeson: Artist and Citizen,” Rutgers University’s centennial traveling exhibition, opens at the school’s Camden Campus.
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“Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: Celebration of His Life and
Legacy,” at Columbia University, NYC, features Ossie Davis, Lloyd L.
Brown, Esther Jackson, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Vinie Burrows, Dr. Charles
H. Wright, Professor Gerald Horne, Margaret Burnham, Victor Navasky,
Jan Carew.
April 6-July 19, 1998
The Free Library of Philadelphia and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Temple University, mount, "Paul Robeson in Philadelphia and Beyond: A Centennial Exhibition, 1898-1998."
April 6, 1998
New York State Senate passes resolution in support of the Centennial Celebrations for Robeson.
April 5-11, 1998
City of Westfield, NJ, observes “Paul Robeson Week,” with a full week of events in honor of their native son, who lived in the town from 1907 to
1910.
April 6-11, 1998
*The Catalyst Dance and Drama Company, Liverpool, UK, presents a week of Centennial tributes.
*“Paul Robeson Week” in Toronto includes film screenings, a symposium and a concert.
April 7, 1998
The Trade Union History Project, New Zealand, holds Robeson Centennial Celebration. During the following week, several Robeson programs are aired on New Zealand radio and articles appear in several journals.
April 8, 1998
· "We Celebrate Paul Robeson" is a day-long celebration at the Paul Robeson High School, Chicago.
· The New York Historical Society hosts panel discussion, “Robeson, African Americans and McCarthyism,” with Lloyd Brown and professors Manning Marable and Eric Foner.
· “An inspiration which lives on,” article in The Morning Star, London
· “He was a red-loving, boat-rocking thorn in the side of white America. How could the world forget Paul Robeson,” article in The Guardian, UK, on the occasion of a season of Robeson films at the National Film Theatre, London
· Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, holds "Paul Robeson Celebration Program," with guest speaker poet Amiri
Baraka.
April 8-14, 1998
Paul Robeson Centenary Exhibition is held at Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, Australia, then goes to Melbourne for April 16-19 exhibit.
April 8-May 8, 1998
Toxteth Library, Liverpool, UK, hosts Robeson exhibition.
April 9, 1998
The Actual 100th Birthday of Paul Robeson
· Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee, Chicago, holds Centennial Celebration at South Shore Cultural Center. Program includes Representative Bobby Rush, Dr. Margaret Burroughs, founder of the Chicago DuSable Museum of African American History, singer/composer Oscar Brown, Jr., journalist Vernon Jarrett, author Studs Terkel and students of the Paul Robeson High School.
· The Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI, holds Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Celebration.
· University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) holds Inaugural Symposium, celebrating the opening of the Paul Robeson Research Center for Academic and Athletic Prowess.
· WGPR-Radio, Detroit, airs three-hour program on Robeson.
· Pittsburg (PA) City Council proclaims the date "Paul Robeson Day."
· WGBO-Radio, New York/New Jersey Metro Area, broadcasts "Paul Robeson: A Tribute to My Friend," a documentary featuring Lloyd L. Brown, Robeson's biographer and longtime friend, reflecting on their 30-year friendship and discussing Robeson's musical achievements and the impact of his music on worldwide social and political issues of the day.
· Paul Robeson Centennial Anniversary Concert is performed by the New York City Labor Chorus, at the Jewish Community Center, Washington, DC.
· KBOO-Radio, Portland, OR, airs three-hour program on Robeson.
· Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research holds 35th Anniversary Dinner in honor of Robeson, at Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles with performing artist Debbie Allen as the recipient of the Paul Robeson Award for her activism in the struggle for social justice.
· Paul Robeson Centennial Committee of Southern California holds Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Party at the Simon Weisenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles.
· City of Toronto, Canada, proclaims the date "Paul Robeson Day."
· Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara (CA) proclaims the date "Paul Robeson Day."
· City and County of San Francisco issues proclamation "in honor of Paul Robeson's remarkable contribution to the social, political and artistic vitality of our nation…[and] commend[s] this true Renaissance man for his exemplary vision and spirit…."
· Centennial Celebration includes musical selections, selected readings and screening of film Proud Valley, at the Santa Barbara Central Library.
· Cathedral City Library and Palm Desert Library (California) hold Robeson Centennial tributes.
· “Robeson Keeps Rolling Along: A Tribute in Song and Anecdote to Paul Robeson” is held at Tom Mann Theatre, Sydney, Australia. Program is performed again in Melbourne on April 19.
· State of New York adopts Legislative Resolution In Support of the Centennial Celebration of Paul Robeson.
· Article, “Paul Robeson Centennial,” appears in the Wall Street Journal. · Israel Broadcasting Authority, Voice of Music Channel, Jerusalem, Israel, broadcasts program, “Paul Robeson – Singer and Humanist.”
· Radio Moreeni, Tampere, Finland, broadcasts program, “Paul Robeson – 100.”
· Canadian Broadcasting Corporation airs second radio documentary on the life of Paul Robeson.
April 9 and 18, 1998
One-hour program on Robeson is broadcast by the Mexican Radio Institute, Mexico City.
April 12, 1998
Concert in honor of Robeson is held in Berlin, Germany.
April 15, 1998
“Celebrate Renaissance Men: Harold Washington and Paul Robeson,” features keynote speaker Congressman Danny K. Davis and the Chicago Children’s Choir, at the Harold Washington Library, Chicago.
April 15 and 20, 1998
National Faroese Broadcasting Corporation, Faroe Islands, Norway, broadcasts programs on Robeson.
April 16, 1998
San Jose Mercury News publishes article entitled "Robeson's many talents still inspire awe, respect."
April 16-18, 1998
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, holds three-day conference, "A Celebration of the Life of Paul Robeson."
April 17-24, 1998
Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus, screens Robeson films.
April 18, 1998
· Avery Brooks performs “Paul Robeson: The Man and His Music,” one-man play by Phillip Hayes Dean, at New Regal Theater, Chicago.
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“Tribute to Paul Robeson” is presented by the Centre for Socialist Education, Vancouver, BC,
Canada
April 19, 1998
· “Remembering Paul Robeson,” a panel discussion, is held at Robin’s Book Store, Philadelphia.
·
“A Tribute to Paul Robeson” is held at Melbourne University, Australia.
April 21, 1998
President Bill Clinton faxes message of greeting to celebration of the Robeson Centennial in Westchester County, NY.
Clinton states, in part: “A century after Paul Robeson’s birth, we live in a nation that is stronger because of his vision and eloquent voice.”
April 23, 1998
· Columbia College Chicago presents the premier screening of “The Robeson Concerts: Peekskill, 1949,” at the Harold Washington Library.
· “Singing for peace, hope and freedom,” article appears in The Morning Star, London
April 24, 1998
Center for Inner City Studies, Northeastern Illinois University, holds panel discussion, “The Political Impact of Paul Robeson: Black Warrior in Cold War America,” featuring Jack O’Dell, Director of International Affairs for the Rainbow/PUSH organization.
April 26, 1998
· People's Weekly World newspaper holds forum in Chicago: "Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois and the Roots of Black Radicalism."
· Berkeley (CA) Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists dedicates Sunday Service to "Paul Robeson: African American Giant."
April 27, 1998
San Jose Peace Chorale performs Ballad for Americans, with slideshow on Robeson’s life, in San Jose, CA.
April 28, 1998
The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance hosts “From These Roots,” a narrative and pictorial traveling exhibit on Robeson’s life and achievements, and “The Young Paul Robeson: On My Journey Now,” a lecture and book signing by biographer Lloyd L. Brown, at the Paul Robeson House, Philadelphia.
April 29-May 10, 1998
International House, Philadelphia, holds "Paul Robeson Film Series."
May, 1998
The Unionist: Official Publication of Social Service Employees Union Local 371-DC 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, publishes “Salute to Paul Robeson on Centennial of His Birth,” 2-page center spread, with photos.
May 1, 1998
Black Radical Congress holds Robeson Centennial celebration at the Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture, New York City.
May 3, 1998
· The Swiss Labor Chorus performs concert in honor of Robeson in Langenthal, Switzerland.
· Berne Radio, Switzerland, broadcasts program on the life of Robeson.
May 4, 1998
The Swiss Party of Labour, Berne, Switzerland, screens “I’m a Negro, I’m an American,” a documentary film from the GDR.
May 5, 1998
Southfield Public Library (Michigan) holds Robeson Centennial Program.
May 9, 1998
People's Weekly World newspaper holds program, "Honoring Paul Robeson: Hero of Our Times," at YWCA, Oakland, CA.
· Centennial tribute is held at the Herman Park Community Center, University City, Missouri.
May 18, 1998
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