Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson's birth

Apr 9, 1898

Paul Leroy Robesonis born in Princeton, New Jersey to Reverand William and Maria Robeson.

Paul's mother passes away

Jan 1, 1904

Maria Robeson passes away when Paul is only 6 years old.

Robeson wins a four year scholarship to Rutgers

Aug 1, 1915

Robeson won a state wide competition and thus won a four year scholarship to attend Rutgers College in Newark, New Jersey, making him the third African American to ever attend the school. While he attends this school, he receives 15 varsity letters in four different sports and is a star orator, singer, scholar, and is valedictorian.

Robeson is put on the All-American football team at Yale.

Jan 1, 1919

Legenday Walter Camp, the football coach at Yale college, puts Paul Robeson on his All-American football team believe that he was the greatest defensive end of all times.

Robeson marries

Aug 17, 1921

After having dated Eslanda Goode, a histologic al chemist, for a year, Paul and Eslanda marry.

Robeson plays lead role in "All God's Chillun Got Wings"

Dec 1, 1924

After quitting his job as a lawyer because of extreme racism in the field Paul decided to begin acting to provide an income. In December, he aquired the lead role of Jim in an Eugene O'Neill production of "All God's Chillun Got Wings",

Paul Robeson Jr. is born

Nov 2, 1927

Paul in the USSR

Dec 1, 1934

Sergie Einstein invites Paul to the USSR to make a movie. Paul feels that he was mistreated there because of his race.

World War II begins

Sep 1, 1939

Paul decides he will no longer act in Hollywood films.

Aug 1, 1942

After Paul Robeson played a rold in the "Tales of Manhattan" he was disgusted with how the movie rudely portrayed his race and thus decided he was not going to act anymore.

Paul is given Spingarn medal.

Jan 1, 1945

Robeson was awarded the Spingarn medal by the NAACP for his "distinguished achievements in the theatre and concert stage as well as his active concern for the rights of the common man for every race, color, religion and nationality."

Paul is named a communist.

Jan 1, 1953

Because of his thoughts about the USSR, the United States lists him as a communist and is blacklisted from any and all record companies.

Paul Robeson Day

Mar 17, 1958

India declares Paul Robeson Day a national holiday after Paul was finally given his passport back.

Paul's wife dies.

Dec 1, 1965

Essie Robeson dies of cancer just a little before her 70th birthday.

Robeson's death

Jan 23, 1976