Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1898. He attended Somerville High School in 1912 where he was awarded a Scholarship to Rutgers University. Robeson was only the third African-American student to attend Rutgers. His academic achievements included being named into Phi Beta Kappa and being one of four members elected into Cap and Skull. Robeson was his class valedictorian. He also excelled athletically, earning varsity letters in multiples sports.
From 1920 to 1923, Robeson attended Columbia University Law School. While there, he was recruited by the NFL to play for the Akron Pros while simultaneously continuing his studies. He met his future wife, fellow student Eslanda Goode, in 1921. In 1927, they welcomed a son, Paul Robeson Jr.
Robeson had an extensive career on stage and screen and was one of the most important members of the Harlem Renaissance. On stage he starred in productions of All God’s Chillun Got Wings, the Emperor Jones, and became known for his rendition on “Ol’ Man River” in Showboat. In 1943, he received praise for his turn in Othello. His first on screen role was in Body and Soul in 1925, followed by roles in Sanders of the River, Big Fella, and many more.
Robeson was a strong force against racial injustice and was involved in world politics. He supported Pan-Africanism, and often visited the Soviet Union in the 1930’s, praising them for their “lack or racial bias.” During World War II, Robeson helped entertain soldiers and laborers in war industries. When the war was over, he worked hard, campaigning for the rights of African Americans around the world. He received numerous honors and award including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Spingarn Medal, the Diction Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Stalin Peace Prize along with many other honorary degrees.
Rutgers has made sure to honor the life of Paul Robeson. In 1967, The Paul Robeson Cultural Center opened. It is one of the oldest cultural centers in the country. A spokesperson for the center said that “it is a space to give students of color a home away from home. We have taken that mission so seriously and we have woven it into the fabric of student life so that diversity is celebrated on the books, but also as a part of research, teaching, learning, and recruitment and retention of students.”
Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0732079/bio
http://prcc.rutgers.edu/news-and-events/
http://www.biography.com/people/paul-robeson-9460451?page=2
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Pu-Ro/Robeson-Paul.html#ixzz2skL0QnGZ