Paul Robeson passed away 50 years ago today

Paul Robeson passed away 50 years ago today

In memory of the great Paul Robeson

By Lynda Carson - January 23, 2026

Some reports about Paul Robeson on Google News Wire - Click below…

https://news.google.com/search?q=Paul%20Robeson&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

Paul Robeson passed away 50 years ago today…

It was 50 years ago today on January 23, 1976, that the great Paul Robeson passed away. In part, he was known as a fabulous American bass-baritone concert artist, political activist, and professional football player, who became famous for his cultural accomplishments, as well as for his political stances and activities.

Additionally, there was the Paul Robeson Committee, that was known in the USA, and around the world including in Russia, and what was known as the GDR years ago.

Reportedly in Wikipedia, “In 1933, Robeson played the role of Jim in the London production of Chillun, virtually gratis, then returned to the United States to star as Brutus in the film The Emperor Jones – the first film to feature an African American in a starring role, "a feat not repeated for more than two decades in the U.S." His acting in The Emperor Jones was well received.[136] On the film set he rejected any slight to his dignity, despite the widespread Jim Crow atmosphere in the United States. Upon returning to England, he publicly criticized African Americans' rejection of their own culture. Despite negative reactions from the press, such as a New York Amsterdam News retort that Robeson had made a "jolly well [ass of himself]",  he also announced that he would reject any offers to perform central European (though not Russian, which he considered "Asiatic") opera because the music had no connection to his heritage.

In early 1934, Robeson enrolled in the School of Oriental and African Studies, a constituent college of the University of London, where he studied phonetics and Swahili.[141][142] His "sudden interest" in African history and its influence on culture coincided with his essay "I Want to be African", wherein he wrote of his desire to embrace his ancestry.

His friends in the anti-imperialist movement and his association with British socialists led him to visit the Soviet Union. Robeson, Essie, and Marie Seton traveled to the Soviet Union on an invitation from Sergei Eisenstein in December 1934. A stopover in Berlin enlightened Robeson to the racism in Nazi Germany and, on his arrival in Moscow, in the Soviet Union, Robeson said, "Here I am not a Negro but a human being for the first time in my life ... I walk in full human dignity."

Additionally, for what it’s worth, I was able to dig up some older reports below that mention the name of Paul Robeson or the Paul Robeson Committee, that most people are not aware of, or have never seen before. See reports below…

January 25, 1976 - SOVIET PRESS SUMMARY - JANUARY 25
Reportedly, “OBITUARY OF PAUL ROBESON IN JAN 25 PRAVDA PROVIDED ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME DIGS AT COLD
WARRIORS BY RECALLING HIS PERSECUTION IN 1950’S.”

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February 6, 1976 - GDR PRESS CAMPAIGN ACCUSING THE U.S. OF "CLASS JUSTICE" AND "IMPERIALIST BARBARITY"

THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAVE SEEN A MOUNTING CAMPAIGN IN THE GDR
CENTRAL PRESS CENTERED ON PAUL ROBESON'S DEATH AND THE PREMIER
OF A FRENCH TV FILM, "THE ROSENBERGS MUST NOT DIE", BY ALAIN
DECAUX AND SELLIO LORENZI, WHICH HAS BEEN FEATURED ON GDR TV
IN FOUR INSTALLMENTS CONCLUDING ON FEBRUARY 2, 1976. THE CAMPAIGN,
WHICH ACCUSES THE U.S. OF "CLASS JUSTICE" AND "IMPERIALIST BARBARITY",

HAS BEEN PLAYED MOST HEAVILY IN THE CULTURAL SECTIONS OF THE PRESS, BUT
TODAY (FEBRUARY 6), HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THE FRONT PAGE OF THE SED
PARTY ORGAN NEUES DEUTSCHLAND, UNDER THE HEADLINE: "ROSENBERG SONS:
THE GDR SUPPORTS OUR STRUGGLE",; SUB HEADLINE: "FROM THE CRIME AGAINST
THE PARENTS STRETCHES A DIRECT LINK WITH THE PRESENT."

THE CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A LONG HISTORY OF U.S.
LEGAL TRANSGRESSION FROM THE SACCO AND VANZETTI CASE, THROUGH
THE ROSENBERG CASE AND PERSECUTION OF PAUL ROBESON AND ANGELA
DAVIS, ON TO THE SO-CALLED "WILMINGTON TEN", THE LEADER OF WHICH,
REVEREND BEN CHAVIS, IS FEATURED IN AN ARTICLE AND IN PICTURES
TOGETHER WITH ANGELA DAVIS, IN ND OF FEB 6. THE ARTICLE CONSISTS
OF AN INTERVIEW WITH CHAVIS CONDUCTED BY ND CORRESPONDENT, HORST
SCHAEFER IN A MOTEL IN WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE HIS
ARREST AND SENTENCING IN RALEIGH ENTITLED: "IMPRISONED UNTIL THE
YEAR 2009". IN THE ARTICLE, CHAVIS IS QUOTED PRAISING THE GDR FOR
ITS SUPPORT AND NOTING THAT HE HAS HEARD WHAT A GREAT RACE PREJUDICE
FREE PLACE IT IS FROM ANGELA DAVIS AND HIS OWN SISTER, WHO IS STUDYING
THERE NOW. ON THE AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL, HE IS QUOTED IN PART
STATING: "THE BLACK AMERICANS, THE OTHER MINORITIES, AND THE POOR
IN THE USA CAN LOOK ONLY BACK ON TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF OPPRESSION
AND RACISM." HE ALSO IS QUOTED THAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE WITH LUIS
CORVALAN AND OTHER BRAVE MEN IN CHILE, WHO ARE "IN MUCH GREATER
DANGER THAN WE (THE WILMINGTON TEN) ARE."

DURING THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN, THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY TO FEATURE
THE ATTACKS ON U.S. JUSTICE ALONGSIDE A DETAILING OF ALLEGED JUNTA
ATROCITIES IN CHILE, PLUS THE LONG-TIME CAMPAIGN CALLING FOR
"FREEDOM FOR LUIS CORVALAN."

THE BERLINER ZEITUNG OF TODAY FEATURES A NUMBER OF INDIGNANT
LETTERS FROM GDR WORKERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN UNDER SUCH LURID
HEADINGS AS: "LEGALIZED MURDER IN THE 'LAND OF UNLIMITED
OPPORTUNITY'".

COMMENT: IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING IF THE EMBASSY WERE
TO BEGIN TO RECEIVE PROTEST LETTERS FROM FACTORIES AND SCHOOLS OF
THE TYPE FORWARDED PROTESTING THE "CHILDREN'S AIR LIFT" IN VIET
NAM LAST YEAR. IF SO, IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THE EMBASSY TO
RECEIVE VIA WIRELESS FILE OR OTHER CHANNELS, ANY EXPLANATORY
MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON "THE WILMINGTON TEN", AS WELL AS THE
ROSENBERG CASE. THESE COULD BE USED IN REPLY TO LETTERS OF
PROTEST AS WERE MATERIALS ON THE "CHILDRENS' AIR LIFT." GROVE.”

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April 29, 1976 - ROSENBERG SON VISITS THE GDR

ROBERT MEEROPOL, SON OF JULIUS AND ETHEL ROSENBERG,
VISITED THE GDR FOR THREE DAYS DURING THE WEEK OF APRIL 19.
MEEROPOL WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MORTEN SOBELL, CONVICTED WITH
THE ROSENBERGS IN THE EARLY 1950'S FOR ESPIONAGE AGAINST THE
U.S. AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPRISONED FOR 19 YEARS, AND A LAWYER,
MARSHALL PERLIN. ALL THREE WERE GUESTS OF THE PEACE COUNCIL
OF THE GDR AND THE LOCAL PAUL ROBESON COMMITTEE. THEIR SHORT
STAY CENTERED IN BERLIN WHERE THEY WERE AWARDED THE "PEACE
MEDAL OF THE GDR" BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE GDR PEACE
COUNCIL.

THE MEEROPOL VISIT MADE A SMALL PUBLICITY SPLASH IN EAST
BERLIN MEDIA WHICH SUPPORTED MEEROPOL'S AIM OF CLEARING HIS
PARENTS' NAME THROUGH EXPOSURE OF THE "INJUSTICES" OF
AMERICAN LEGAL AND JUDICIAL PRACTICES. THE LOCAL MEDIA
REPORTEDLY ARE CONVINCED THAT THE ROSENBERGS HAD BEEN
CONVICTED ILLEGALLY AND THAT THEIR EXECUTION FOR ES-
PIONAGE WAS AN ACT OF "IMPERIALISTIC" REVENGE AGAINST
THOSE WHO SYMPATHIZED WITH COMMUNIST CAUSES. GDR MEDIA
FULLY BACKED MEEROPOL'S DEMAND THAT ALL THE DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO HIS PARENT'S CASE BE RELEASED BY U.S.
AUTHORITIES.

COMMENT: THE MEEROPOL VISIT SERVED THE GDR'S
PROPAGANDA INTERESTS BY PLAYING THE THEME THAT COMMUNISTS
IN THE UNITED STATES ARE OFFICIALLY RESTRICTED AND
OCCASIONALLY, AS IN THE ROSENBERG CASE, FACE THE POSSI-
BILITY OF DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT AT THE HANDS OF "RIGHT-
WING" EXTREMISTS. THE VISIT ALSO GAVE GDR GROUPS
LIKE TH FDJ, THE MASS YOUTH ORGANIZATION, AN OPPORTUNITY
TO RENEW THEIR DEDICATION TO BATTLE "IMPERIALISTIC"
FORCES IN THE WORLD AND TO REHASH THE ROSENBERG CASE IN
PARTICULAR ABOUT SIX WEEKS AFTER GDR TELEVISION CARRIED
A FRENCH SERIES ON THE CASE. THE EMBASSY UNDERSTANDS
THAT A PLANNED MEETING WITH KLAUS FUCHS, CONVICTED IN
THE U.K. FOR AN OFFENSE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE ROSENBERGS AND
NOW RESIDENT IN DRESDEN, DID NOT TAKE PLACE, PARTLY
BECAUSE FUCHS WAS IN THE SOVIET UNION BUT ALSO DUE TO
A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THE MEETING ON THE PART OF
MEEROPOL'S GDR HOSTS. MEEROPOL REPORTEDLY DEPARTED BERLIN
MUCH BUOYED UP BY HIS GDR RECEPTION AND WITH RENEWED
CONFIDENCE THAT HE WOULD EVENTUALLY SUCCEED IN OVERTURNING
HIS PARENTS' CONVICTION. COOPER.”

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October 13, 1977 - AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT DELEGATION IN THE GDR

GDR

NEUES DEUTSCHLAND OF OCTOBER 13 REPORTS THE VISIT
TO EAST BERLIN OF AN AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT (AIM)
DELEGATION HEADED BY RUSSEL MEANS AT THE INVITATION
OF THE GDR "PEACE COUNCIL." THE DELEGATION WAS GREETED
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL BY PROF. FRANZ LOESER WHO

EXPRESSED THE GROUP'S SOLIDARITY WITH AMERICAN
INDIANS AGAINST "IMPERIALISTIC DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS,

OPPRESSION, DISCRIMINATION AND PERSECUTION." MEANS
IS REPORTED TO HAVE STATED THAT AMERICAN INDIANS HAVE
LEARNED THAT THE SOCIALIST STATES HAVE PREVENTED
IMPERIALISM FROM LAUNCHING A NEW WORLD WAR AND THAT
"THE STRENGTH OF THE SOCIALIST CAMP HAS GIVEN TO MANY
OPPRESSED NATIONS THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESSFULLY
FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM."

LOESER LIVED IN THE US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND
STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. HE RETURNED

TO THE GDR IN THE 1950'S, BECAME A PROFESSOR AT
HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY AND HAS FROM TIME TO TIME WRITTEN

AND GIVEN SPEECHES ON THE US, OFTEN CRITICAL BUT
GENERALLY NOT STRIDENT. HE IS THE HEAD OF THE LOCAL
"PAUL ROBESON COMMITTEE."

COMMENT: THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE VISIT HAS SO
FAR NOT BEEN AT THE FRONT-PAGE LEVEL BUT THIS MAY BE
BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION CURRENTLY GIVEN TO THE STATE
VISIT OF CONGOLESE PRESIDENT YHOMBY-OPANGO. AIM VISIT
IS PRESUMABLY WELCOME TO THE GDR AS IT SERVES TO
REINFORCE ITS CLAIMS THAT US VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS.
BOLEN.”

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Some newer reports…

(Democracy Now, January 23, 2026)
“Kings and Pawns”: Howard Bryant on What Jackie Robinson & Paul Robeson Reveal About America
STORYJANUARY 23, 2026

Click below for full the report and story…

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/23/howard_bryant_kings_pawns_robeson_robinson

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Paul Robeson’s death on January 23, 1976. The actor, singer, athlete and scholar was once famous around the world, but he was attacked, blacklisted and hounded by the government for his political beliefs. Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers star who had integrated the all-white major baseball leagues, was hailed as a national hero in 1949 for testifying against Robeson before the House Un-American Activities Committee associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy. For more, we speak with sports journalist Howard Bryant, author of the new book Kings and Pawns that looks at how Robeson and Robinson’s paths intertwined at the height of the McCarthy era.

“History writes people out of the story, and it’s our job to write them back in,” Bryant says. Fifty years after Paul Robeson’s death, “it’s time for a reappraisal of one of the great Americans.”

Additionally, On Democracy Now, earlier today on January 23, 2026…

Book revisits Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson history

Click below…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YJ0O_yMD7c

Additionally, if interested, feel free to see this interesting report from 1996, on Democracy Now. A 1996 report on Democracy Now, called, Did the U.S. Government Drug Paul Robeson?


Lynda Carson may be reached at newzland2 [at] gmail.com

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