From Princeton, NJ to Philadelphia, PA, Paul Robeson was a Renaissance man who traveled across the country and the globe to promote justice, liberation, and peace. In honor of Robeson’s global activism, the Paul Robeson Alliance is developing a mapping project to represent the significant locations that Robeson lived in or traveled to over the course of his life. We hope by developing this mapping resource, we can introduce the next generation to the global legacy Robeson left behind. The working project is linked in the heading.
WHO WE ARE
The Paul Robeson Alliance is a coalition of organizations that have been formed independently over the years to acknowledge and celebrate the legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson, Esq., a 20th-century Renaissance man who advocated for freedom, peace and brotherhood. Robeson fought for, suffered for, and believed in these ideals, and it has become the duty of the Robeson Alliance to continue Robeson’s activist mission and grant recognition to a man who lacked the proper appreciation during his own lifetime.
Individually, the groups that comprise the Robeson Alliance have maintained his legacy through theater; community, university and library programs, youth involvement, art exhibitions, cultural experiences and more. In 2022, more than a dozen Robeson-inspired groups came together to form the alliance to bolster his life and vision through their combined efforts. Through joint initiatives and cross-organization collaborations, the Alliance has created an ever-expanding, international network of Robeson-inspired entities whose collective work will allow people from around the world to learn about the life and legacy of Paul Robeson and its importance in our contemporary day.
Robey Theatre’s “The Talented Tenth”
ROBESON'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT, OCTOBER 15, 2023
A Musical Tribute
Join us on October 15, 2023 @3:00pm-5:00pm EST for an extraordinary evening as we celebrate the 125th birthday of Paul Robeson. This event is more than just a concert; it’s a tribute to a legacy, a gathering of community, and a beacon of historical preservation.
Headlined by Kevin Maynor, Renowned Bass Soloist
Kevin Maynor, acclaimed for his rich and expressive voice, will be gracing the stage to perform a selection of Paul Robeson songs. His performances have enthralled audiences across the globe. Westminster Jubilee Singers
Composed of students selected by audition, the Westminster Jubilee Singers is modeled after the historically acclaimed Fisk Jubilee Singers. Its specialized and select repertoire is very diverse and focuses on solo and ensemble artistic expressions from its singers. Part of Westminster Choir College’s Sacred Music Department, the ensemble performs literature that includes African-American spirituals and folk songs; classical music by African-American composers; gospel music and secular songs by musical greats.
Special guest: Susan Robeson
We are immensely privileged to welcome Susan Robeson to the Robeson Anniversary Concert. As a beacon of her grandfather’s legacy, she will grace us with the opening remarks and guide us through the event as our esteemed moderator. VIP ticket holders will have the exclusive honor of joining Susan Robeson at the event’s VIP reception.
Special guests: Patricia Smith and the Witherspoon Church Verse Speaking Choir
We are thrilled to have Patricia Smith, Princeton’s esteemed poet laureate, joining us. The Witherspoon Church Verse Speaking Choir will be performing Smith’s newly commissioned Paul Robeson poem. A printed version of the poem will be shared with ticket holders.
PAUL ROBESON'S BIRTH, PART 2,
JUNE-NOVEMBER 2023
DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND WALKING TOUR
SOMERVILLE, NJ, JUNE 17, 2023
The Ubuntu Cultural Pavilion Inc. in Somerville, NJ, is holding its first event as a newly formed non-profit organization on Saturday, June 17, 2023. This was the day in 1915 that Paul Robeson graduated from Somerville High School. For more information: ucpavilion@gmail.com
125TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
APRIL 8-15, 2023
Born to a North Carolina freedom seeker and Presbyterian minister, William Drew Robeson, and a Quaker schoolteacher and descendant of one Philadelphia’s oldest Black families, Maria Louisa Bustill, on April 9, 1898, Paul Robeson led a life that was both selfless and fearless. Robeson and his siblings placed a high value on education, as Robeson attended Somerville High School, graduating in 1915, Rutgers University as valedicctorian, graduating in 1919, and Columbia Law School, graduating in 1923.
While in law school, Robeson played professional football for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers. However, his talents did not stop just there. In addition to being a world-class thespian with his most notable leading role being in Othello in London in the 1930s and ’40s, Robeson was also a movie star, starring in several top-billed roles in movies like Emperor Jones (1993), Proud Valley (1940), and Show Boat (1951).
However, Robeson is most commonly known as an early civil rights activist who used his magnificent bass-baritone voice to protest through the language of oration and song. Robeson was an international figure who embraced the struggles of oppressed people in his own country and abroad. In many ways, Robeson was a talented artist who traded the stage for the real world and sacrificed his career for standing up for what he believed in.
Please join the Alliance in honoring Paul Leroy Robeson, Esq. and his achievements for his 125th Birthday. The Robeson Alliance will be hosting events during the entire month of April and beyond, with most events occurring during Robeson Week on April 8-15, 2023. Here is our full Robeson 125th Birthday event calendar.
PAUL LEROY ROBESON
April 9, 1898 – Jan. 23, 1976
PAST 125th ACTIVITIES
The Robeson House of Princeton Robeson Week of Remembrance 2023 on April 8 @10:30am ET
The Paul Robeson House of Princeton in Princeton, NJ
Black Quaker Lives Matter Film Festival & Forum on April 8 @1:00 pm ET
The American Friends Service Committee
& The BlackQuaker Project – Virtual
The Robey Theatre Company’s 125th Birthday Celebration on April 9 @1-7pm PT
The Robey Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Robeson House & Museum’s 125th Birthday Celebration and Fundraiser on April 14 and 15
Paul Robeson House & Museum in Philadelphia, PA
Paul Robeson Institute’s Jazz Music Concert on April 16 @2:00pm ET
Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Social Justice in Branchburg, NJ
"The artist must fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." - Paul Leroy Robeson
ALLIANCE MEMBERS
Located at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ Campus
Represented by Jakora Thompson
Located in Philadelphia, PA: the city of Robeson’s death
Represented by Janice Sykes-Ross, Vernoca Michael, Sherry Howard, Margaret Livingston, Joyce Mosley
Paul Robeson House of Princeton
Located in Princeton, New Jersey: the city of Robeson’s birth
Represented by Denyse Leslie, Shirley Satterfield, Ben Colbert, Martha Sword, Dr. Joy Barnes-Johnson
Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Social Justice
Located at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ
Represented by Rhonda Stewart
Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance, Inc
Based at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ
Represented by Simone Mack-Bright
Ubuntu Cultural Pavillion
Located in Somerville, NJ
Represented by Kendall Hall
Based at Penn State University in University Park, PA
Represented by Evan Williams and Maryness Castillo Espinoza