In August 1972, The New York Times arts section published a story titled "Time to Break the Silence on Paul Robeson?" Paul Robeson, a prominent bass-baritone, stage and Hollywood actor, and activist, was a significant American talent in the first half of the 20th century. He later became an outcast during the second Red Scare period due to his political beliefs. The 50th anniversary of Robeson's death highlights a historical marginalization and a perceived silence regarding his legacy within African American culture.
Robeson's achievements spanned multiple fields. He was a two-time All-American at Rutgers and played two years in the National Football League. He graduated from Columbia Law School. In 1943, he became the first Black man to play Othello on Broadway, setting a record of 296 performances for a Shakespeare production. Robeson was also a world-renowned concert singer. His career influenced numerous Black stage performers, including Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, James Earl Jones, and Denzel Washington. At his peak, Robeson was considered the most famous Black American globally.
Robeson faced isolation for his refusal to denounce the Soviet Union as Cold War tensions intensified. He was distanced by both the white mainstream and certain Black establishments, such as the NAACP and the Urban League, due to fears of being labeled communist. In 1949, Jackie Robinson, who had integrated Major League Baseball, testified against Robeson to the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Following Robinson's testimony, riots occurred during Robeson's concerts in Peekskill, New York. The combined pressure of national opinion and the federal government contributed to the decline of Robeson's public standing. His name was subsequently removed from record books and historical texts, including those from his alma mater, Rutgers. The State Department withheld his passport for nearly a decade, calling him "the most dangerous man in America," until the Supreme Court ruled the denial of travel rights based on political beliefs unconstitutional.
Jackie Robinson later expressed disillusionment regarding the lack of sustained racial progress and the Republican Party's hardening stance on civil rights, which he stated had informed his earlier actions. In a 1969 New York Times article, Robinson stated, "I wouldn’t fly the flag on Fourth of July or any other day," reflecting his changed perspective on patriotism and American society.
Robeson's supporters, who maintained their belief in him, referred to him as "The Tallest Tree in the Forest" and "Citizen of the World." A letter to the editor published after Robeson's death criticized society for acknowledging his greatness only posthumously, when he was "safely silenced." The article suggests that, unlike Malcolm X, whose legacy was reclaimed by a new generation of Black artists, Paul Robeson's full reappraisal remains incomplete five decades after his death.