ABSTRACT
The son of a slave, Paul Robeson was a martyr and crusader who suffered at the hands of what he called ‘the Establishment’, to ensure human dignity for all Americans. Many of us remember him as the celebrated singer and actor. 1 Fewer know that he was a brilliant lawyer, scholar (speaking 20 languages) and professional football player. Fewer yet realize that he was silenced, had his passport revoked by the American government and was systematically and effectively deprived of earning a livelihood in the arts because of his unyielding advocacy for the rights of humankind.
