Paul Robeson: the World Famous, Trailblazing Icon They Tried to Erase

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana continue their Streaming Between the Lines series and discuss “Paul Robeson: Here I Stand,” the 1999 documentary that was directed by St. Clair Bourne for the PBS series American Masters and is currently streaming on many platforms. The guys marvel at Robeson’s ability to rise to the top in so many distinct fields, including sports, law, concert artist, Broadway performer, movie star, and activist, consider how his life shaped, and was shaped by, some of the most significant events and circumstances in the 20th century, and reflect on how Robeson could be one of the most famous men in the world in the first half of the 20th century and also be largely unknown now.

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Documentary (YouTube)

'The most famous black person in America': How the 1950s 'Red Scare' erased a US icon (BBC)

‘The most dangerous man in America’: how Paul Robeson went from Hollywood to blacklist (The Guardian)

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Interviews (PBS)