Paul Robeson

by Martin Duberman

Book Overview

Passionate and enormously talented, Paul Robeson lived one of the great lives of the twentieth century. Martin Duberman's classic biography is a monumental and powerfully affecting portrait of one of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394527801
• Release Date: February 1989
• Publisher: Knopf
• Length: 804 Pages
• Weight: 3.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Probably the best book on Paul we'll ever get...

Martin Duberman presents an exhaustive, objective examination of the awesomely talented, psychologically complex, and perhaps politically naive Robeson. I am white, and grew up in a racist family, but from the moment I heard Paul Robeson's recording of "Get On Board, Little Children" I was hooked. I was only 14, but that song, less than 90 seconds long, launched me on a journey away from bigotry that is still proceding, 43 years later. I fell in thrall to the voice, ended up owning 11 vinyl albums and reading everything by and about him I could. His defense of Stalin-era Communism is stubborn and troubling, but there is no disputing his importance as a fighter for civil rights before it was fashionable. I am not sure how those of us who were not yet adults in the '40's and '50's can fairly judge the politics of the man...especially those of us who are not Afro-American. I prefer to let his controversial politics take a backseat to his pioneer acting and singing. This was a real MAN, who could hold a stage with only his voice and his charisma and his talent, making white, affluent audiences listen to negro spirituals, union songs, Chinese and Russian and German songs, and like it. Robeson was glorious and tragic, brilliant and flawed, courageous but sometimes selfish, furious often and yet capable of the most tender lullabies. One of the most fascinating American lives of the 20th Century. Professor Duberman has done great work with this book. If Robeson interests you, buy it and read it. I'm glad I did.

An American Hero In Black

There are two recent biographies in my library that I am proud to own above almost all others: David Levering Lewis' two volume biography of W.E.B. DuBois and Mr. Duberman's biography of Paul Robeson. Despite the fanatical rantings of would be fascists that Robeson was a communist, Robeson was an American hero in the truest sense and in the best tradition. He was a man who recognized that all of his remarkable achievements could be destroyed by his persistent public demands that the United States live up to its proclamations of being the land of liberty in a Cold War environment of paranoia, hypocrisy, persecution, and oppression of dissenters by actively and effectively addressing the grievances of its Afro American citizens. He was a genius who sacrificed his most productive years in the cause of civil rights and justice for those who, it must be remembered, were being segregated, lynched, disenfranchised, economically exploited, stereotyped, and humiliated in every area of American society throughout most of Robeson's lifetime. Robeson courageously kept common cause with his people---and not just those who shared his color---when his successes allowed him every opportunity to serve only his own personal interests in comfort for the rest of his life. Duberman does more than offer a biography of Robeson;he presents a biography of Robeson's times and environment that clearly demonstrates how his passion for justice and the realization of the American Dream for EVERY citizen was constantly reinforced by the events occurring around him, two examples of which are the Scottsboro Boys case and the failure of the United States government to adopt anti-lynching legislation. Duberman does not gloss over Robeson's conflicts over revelations that the ideal communist state had become a Stalinist nightmare but presents the information in such a fashion that the reader might reach his or her own conclusions. My conclusion was that Robeson's failing, if it is that, was that he could not abandon his commitment to the ideals of equality, brotherhood, and justice claimed by the Communist Party as a reality in the Soviet Union until and unless the United States realized those ideals regarding its own Afro American citizens, its poor, and its workers. Like many other prominent Americans of the time, Robeson was seduced by a hope for a dream of Marxist, as opposed to Leninist/Stalinist, communism. Unlike many of those Americans, Robeson remained faithful to the dream despite the reality. Even giants have flaws and Duberman carefully and fairly documents Robeson's. Condemning Robeson for holding fast to his increasingly desperate dream of social justice realized somewhere on the planet---as was also the case with DuBois---may serve the myopic political agenda of some who would never dream of condemning, say, Charles Lindbergh for his racist views and unabashed support for Nazi Germany or Henry Ford for his notorious anti-semitism, but it is a biased and ex

An American Giant

The best review so far of a man who was without a doubt the outstanding intellect of the 20th century. All Americans should read this book, especially the young, as ignorance of this man and his accomplishments is a sad comment on our culture. His outstanding accomplishments stand the test of time despite being hounded by racism and McCarthyism. The only criticism - I would have liked to have seen the Peekskill riots explored in greater depth. I would urge everyone to do themselves a favor and educate themselves about this man.

This book represents the best all-around black hero of all.

This book truly changed my life, forget about Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson Jesse Owens. All are great but compared to Paul Robeson, I don't think so. Mr. Robeson should be as familiar to the youth of today as the above mentioned sport heroes; however history has shunned him. Unlike the modern day super stars Mr. Robeson believed in making social changes albeit at his own demise. What an unselfish and social conscience individual who influenced social change i.e. "Jim Crow " laws and segregation in general. Mr. Robeson excelled in so many different arenas it is mind boggling by todays standards.

A masterful study of a Nietzschean, larger than life US hero

I rate Paul Robeson: a Biography a perfect ten because there are no decimals in the rating system allowing for a nine point five, and the point five from perfection would come only from trivial nit pickings that amount to my desire to never have it end. Duberman, through obviously painstaking research (despite the voluminous material afforded him via Robeson's archives and the Freedom of Information Act's allowing for the research of FBI surveillance files) creates a portrait both panoramic in scope and theme and highly, meticulously detailed. He reaffirms the truism truth is stranger than fiction- and more exhilirating- by bringing us to an intimate knowledge of the many worlds of Paul Robeson- stage and screen actor, concert hall singer, athlete, academician, lawyer, linguist, political/quasi-communist/Civil Rights revolutionary, African-American youngest son of an Episcopal minister- in such a way as to have us be part of the childlike sloughing off of arrogance and ignorance that is the first step in an initiation; an initiation to the higher mysteries of knowledge of the human character and spirit in the context of the modern world; the path Duberman's incredible skill as a writer and biographer clearly shows he has taken. He shows his profound love and respect for the man and his influence of and on American culture by staring unflinchingly at everything from his sexual proclivities and many mistresses to his powerful intellect and international appeal, to his consistent challenging of the prevailing moral schizophrenia of pre-Civil Rights movement America and the subsequent ruination of his career and sanity- all within the context of his familial and cultural ties and his immense talent. Duberman makes one of many things abundantly clear: no nerve on the body politic and the cultural fabric of twentieth century American society was not touched- often wrung, by the tenacity, stubborness, courage, love and immense talent of the many avatars of Paul Robeson. It is impossible to simplify o! r romanticize a life so profoundly influential and complex without ultimately obscuring the very heroic character one- whether they liked him or not- would be attempting to portray. Duberman, in refusing to do so succeeds brilliantly. I felt deeply personally cleansed as well as enlightened about a figure whose influence I now understand has been purposely footnoted into history, as well as why he was, and shouldn't be anymore. Duberman gives a Nietzschean "Ubermensch" rendering of Paul Robeson that every human being- particularly every kind of American- will find gloriously, uncomfortably, provocatively and simultaneously both tragic and triumphant. I cannot recommend this book enough.