The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #77626 Message #1387885
Posted By: Kaleea
25-Jan-05 - 03:13 AM
Thread Name: Stories about Paul Robeson
Subject: RE: Stories about Paul Robeson
I always suggest to my voice students that they read books of and listen to recordings of great singers. Mr. Robeson is one of those singers. The above mentioned bios by the grandaughter & Duberman are good to read. It is important for the younger ones to understand some of the struggles great artists went through to "make it." We should appreciate the hard work of those who helped make clear the way for us.
Mr. Robeson is one of many, many artists who were accused during the McCarthy inquisitions. Like Desi Arnez & Lucille Ball--and even Bob Hope! Why, he wasn't even born in the USA. He only came here as a child----surefire evidence of communist ties in the inquisition days. Mr. Hope had the common audacity to film one of his NBC TV specials from Moscow. From Red Square! With Russian artists on the show mixed in with Americans. He even made jokes about Americans. And Russians. After the finger was pointed at Mr. Hope, he then proceeded to make jokes about McCarthy. People began to laugh. McCarthy began to lose his scary hold over the American people until he turned tail and ran.