Read Paul Robeson Online

Authors: Martin Duberman

Paul Robeson (182 page)

sixty-fourth birthday greetings and letters (1962),
508

sixty-fifth birthday messages and presents (1963),
512
,
748
n
36

sixty-seventh birthday “salute,”
528–30
,
756
n
18
,
n
19

seventy-fifth birthday celebration (1973),
546–7
,
762
n
18

Spingarn Medal (1945),
295
,
299–301

on Jews and discrimination,
133
,
353
,
626
n
48
,
689
n
34
,
737
n
47
;
see also
Jews; Soviet Union: anti-Semitism in

lack of recognition felt by (Sixties),
534

law profession and law school,
30
,
41
,
43
,
52–5
,
585
n
17
,
n
18

linguistics,
623
n
34
,
715
n
3

married life with Eslanda Robeson,
see
Robeson, Eslanda, marriage of PR and,

money matters,
33
,
67
,
70
,
409
,
708
n
13
,
714
n
47
,
753
n
6

The Emperor Jones
, income from,
167

ER and,
102
,
313–15
,
601
n
44

loan from Otto Kahn,
83–5
,
119–20
,
596
n
42
,
606
n
28

Paul, Jr., and,
313–14

Bob Rockmore put in charge of,
242

at Rutgers,
24
,
574
n
17

Sanders of the River
, income from,
626
n
50

oratory,
12
,
16–17
,
24–7
,
340

pentatonic scale theories,
437–8
,
719
n
19
,
723
n
5
,
731
n
16
,
740
n
65

personal characteristics of as adolescent,
12–13
,
15–16

affability (friendliness, accessibility),
15
,
40
,
272

anger (rage),
15
,
244–5
,
271
,
284
,
440–1
,
487–9

apartness (loner),
13
,
15
,
534
,
573
n
15

as a boy,
9

Buch clinicians on,
751–2
n
50

charisma,
258–9

charm,
290

courage,
326
,
515

Essie's personal characteristics compared,
37–9

faith in human nature,
416–18

gentleness,
24

Uta Hagen on,
269
,
290
,
291

irresolution, appearance of,
150–2

C.L.R. James on,
197
,
634
n
33

Ari Kiev on,
534

lack of affectation and self-consciousness,
118
,
238
,
258
,
350

“laziness” misunderstood,
54
,
585
n
16

Ethel Mannin on,
118

Fania Marinoff on,
229

optimism,
334
,
342
,
405
,
417–18

Ben Robeson on,
54

Tony Salemmé on,
68–9

self-control,
15
,
25

stubbornness,
363

Rebecca West on,
94

physical appearance,
42
,
85
,
148
,
157
,
231
,
526

political and social views and activities,
107–8

1930 views,
132–5

1938 appearances at rallies,
222
,
224
,
227–8

1938 trip to Spain,
220

1949 activities,
337–8
,
340–50

1950 activities,
383
,
385–8

1951 activities,
396–8
,
399–400

1952 election campaign,
404
,
405

1959 activities,
479–80

1961 activities,
493–5

1964 activities,
526–7

1965 activities,
531–2

African culture,
129
,
170–81
,
623
n
30
,
624
n
38
;
see also
African culture

American culture, indictment of,
169
,
171–2

antilynching campaign (1945–46),
305–7

black agenda effort (1947),
322–4

black Muslims,
528
,
755
n
16

black nationalism,
172–5
,
201–2
,
309
,
310
,
575
n
24
,
623–4
n
36
;
see also
black Americans; black Muslim movement

Churchill's “Iron Curtain” speech, response to,
303–4
,
672
n
18

colonialism,
296–300
,
304
,
434

on Communism,
329–30
;
see also
China; Communist Party, U.S.A.; Soviet Union

disillusion with Communism rumored,
415
,
499
,
505–6
,
512–3
,
522–3
,
721
,
n
32

disillusion with Soviet Union rumored,
453–4
,
499
,
505–6
,
512–13
,
522–3
,
750
n
49

election of 1948,
325–8
,
334–5

gradualism rejected,
459

HUAC hearings (1956),
440–3

internationalism,
202

C.L.R. James on,
197–8

NBC cancellation (1950),
384–5

Paris speech (1949),
341–50
,
686
n
15

Peoria affair (1947),
317–20
,
678
n
5
,
679
n
6
,
n
7

Prayer Pilgrimage (1957),
447–8

primary allegiance to black people, not Communist Party,
458–9

Progressive Party,
see
Progressive Party

on racism,
see
racism

“refusal to fight the Soviets” line,
342–50
,
382–3
,
686
n
15
,
687
n
16
,
n
17

rhetoric and political rigidity,
381–2
,
415–16

at Rutgers,
25–9

Senate Judiciary Committee hearings (1948),
328–30
,
683
n
31
,
n
32

shift away from “Communist” image (1958),
453
,
458–9

Soviet purge trials,
221
,
308
,
416–17
,
506
,
641
n
17

and Soviet Union,
see
Soviet Union

Spingarn award ceremony (1945),
299–301

Vietnam,
387

Welcome Home rally (1949),
357–9

during World War II,
233–4
,
238–9
,
252–3
,
255
,
257–9
,
266–8
,
282–5
,
654
n
51
,
659
n
12
,
666
n
6
,
668
n
21

after World War II (1945–46),
298–311

Yergan as political liaison,
257

radio broadcasts,
235–6
,
238
,
617
n
56
,
633
n
30

BBC,
480–1
,
483

Emperor Jones
scene,
78

recordings,
82
,
232
,
616–17
n
56
,
708
n
13
,
737
n
53

1925–26,
98

“Ballad for Americans,”
236

“King Joe,”
177
,
626
n
47

Othello Recording Company,
408–9
,
425
,
714
n
47

Vanguard,
460
,
727
n
33

Victor Company,
82
,
86
,
236

religion,
see
black churches

retreats,
666
n
5

return to the U.S., feelings about (1960–61),
484–5
,
493–5
; (1963)
520–1

at Rutgers College,
see
Rutgers College

Russian language and,
149
,
156
,
162
,
185
,
244

singing,
33
,
69
,
75
,
650–1
n
29

1965 California trip,
530

as adolescent,
13–14

blues,
156
,
177–8

Larry Brown as accompanist and arranger,
78–83
,
85
,
98
,
112–15
,
156
,
240
,
302
,
338
,
467
,
470
,
487

career pattern,
126

concerts and recitals,
see
concerts and recitals
above

Essie on,
56
,
91

folk songs,
218
,
728
n
38
;
see also
folk music

Emma Goldman on,
89

jazz,
176–7
,
351
,
625
n
46

lieder,
145
,
176
,
613–14
n
35
,
615
n
44
,
616–17
n
56

microphone technique,
236
,
467
,
633
n
29

opera,
111
,
245

pentatonic theories,
437–8
,
719
n
19
,
723
n
5
,
731
n
16
,
740
n
65

Pond as manager,
82
,
85
,
86
,
98

range of PR's voice,
111
,
236
,
350

recordings,
see
recordings
above

Russian songs,
121
,
149
,
156
,
616–17
n
56
,
634
n
32
,
649
n
17

at Rutgers,
24

self-doubts about musicianship,
245

spirituals,
see
spirituals
below

voice lessons and coaches,
101
,
120
,
660
n
20

South, PR on,
326–7

spirituals,
49
,
77–82
,
595
n
36

1930 tours,
128–9

affinity for the songs,
81

Larry Brown as accompanist and arranger,
78–83

Copley Plaza Hotel concert (1924),
77

critics' dissatisfaction with,
128–9
,
146
,
608
n
41

Provincetown Playhouse, performance at (1925),
79–81

Gertrude Stein on,
92

Van Vechtens' home, performance at (1925),
79

see also
concerts and recitals
above
,
and individual spirituals

and Soviet Union,
see
Soviet Union

sports,
see
athletics

statue by Salemmé,
68–9
,
589
n
3

television appearances,
466–8
,
492
,
729
n
5

theatrical activities

acting technique,
264
,
270
,
278

as adolescent,
13

Amateur Players,
43

Black Boy
,
103–4
,
596
n
2
,
601–2
n
46
,
n
47
,
n
49

Black Majesty
(James),
196–7

contract dispute with Caroline Dudley Reagan,
116–19
,
605
n
18
,
605–6
n
20

in England (1922),
47–51

Essie's encouragement,
44

Essie on PR's acting,
89–90

Hairy Ape, The
,
148–9
,
616
n
50

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