Ol’ Man River
I started my college journey at Rutgers, where I met Anderson Cooper, attended every football game, and made lifelong friends. But the highlight was joining HARU, the Haitian Association at Rutgers, which met every Tuesday at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. It was the first time that I was introduced to Mr. Robeson, but his legacy was all over the walls of the PRCC and the entire university.
Paul Robeson was the ultimate renaissance man: an athlete, actor, singer, scholar, and so much more. His achievements seem almost mythical, yet in a still-racially-segregated America, Robeson defied the odds. He was the third Black student at Rutgers, gaining admission after winning a statewide writing contest, which earned him a four-year scholarship. Not only did he excel in four sports, earning 15 varsity letters, but he was also valedictorian of his class.
After graduating, Robeson pursued law at Columbia University. If you’re asking yourself, “How did a young black man pay for an Ivy League law school in 1920?” the answer is by playing professional football, he even played in the inaugural season of the NFL for the Milwaukee Badgers. He later turned to acting, spurred by his wife, Eslanda, after facing racism in law. Robeson broke barriers in theater, famously starring as Othello on London’s West End and later Broadway.
While his later years were marked by controversy, including accusations of communism, repeatedly cheating on his wife, and a public feud with the U.S. government, Robeson’s legacy is still powerful. He fought for Black rights during a time when Black men weren’t given the space to exist fully. I turn onto Paul Robeson Place every day with pride, knowing the possibilities that exist because Paul Robeson did. It’s a shame that my first introduction to Paul Robeson was as an 18-year-old college freshman but now with April 9th officially recognized as Paul Robeson Day in New Jersey, I hope future generations learn about him sooner.
Now, for your listening pleasure, I will leave you with Paul Robeson’s performance of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” It might not be his most famous performance, but it reminds me of my dad and that makes it my favorite. Happy birthday Mr. Robeson, thanks for giving young black people heroes as grand as the sky.
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