Paul robeson cause of death

Paul Robeson

(1898-1976)

Who Was Paul Robeson?

Paul Robeson was a stellar athlete and performing artist. He starred in both stage and film versions of The Emperor Jones and Show Boat and established an immensely popular screen and singing career of international proportions. Robeson spoke out against racism and became a world activist, and was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Early Years

Paul Leroy Robeson was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, to Anna Louisa and William Drew Robeson, an escaped enslaved person. Robeson's mother died from a fire when he was six and his clergyman father moved the family to Somerville, where the youngster excelled in academics and sang in church.

Star Athlete and Academic

When he was 17, Robeson earned a scholarship to attend Rutgers University, the third African American to do so, and became one of the institution's most decorated students. He received top honors for his debate and oratory skills, won 15 letters in four varsity sports, was elected Phi Beta Kappa and became his class valedicto

Accomplished as a scholar, athlete, actor, singer, and global activist, Paul Robeson is one of Rutgers University's most distinguished alumni and the quintessential 20th century Renaissance man.

The son of a runaway slave, Robeson attended Rutgers College in New Brunswick on an academic scholarship, becoming the university’s third black student and its first black football player. At Rutgers, "Robey"—as he was known at school—showed his prowess on the athletic field as well as in the classroom. An extraordinary athlete, he won 15 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a two-time All-American in football who is in the College Football Hall of Fame. His scholarly accomplishments included being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society and Rutgers' Cap and Skull Honor Society. At Rutgers, Robeson, who spoke more than 20 languages fluently, honed his oratory skills as a member of the Intercollegiate Debating Association. He was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1919.

After graduation, Robeson earned a law degree from Columbia Law School but decided

Paul Robeson

American singer, actor, political activist, and athlete (1898–1976)

This article is about the singer and activist. For his son, see Paul Robeson Jr.

Paul Robeson

Robeson in 1942

Born

Paul Leroy Robeson


(1898-04-09)April 9, 1898

Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

DiedJanuary 23, 1976(1976-01-23) (aged 77)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Resting placeFerncliff Cemetery (Greenburgh, New York)
Education
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • activist
  • athlete
Known forShow Boat
The Emperor Jones
Othello
All God's Chillun Got Wings
Spouse

Eslanda Goode

(m. 1921; died 1965)​
ChildrenPaul Robeson Jr.
Parents
RelativesBustill family

American football player


American football career

Robeson in football uniform at Rutgers, c. 1919

Position:End / tackle
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
High school:Somerville (NJ)
College:Rutgers

College Football Hall of F

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