Robeson, Paul

Paul Robeson had a career that spanned opera, theatre, and film. The warmth of his bass-baritone voice and of his personality made him widely loved in America and Europe. He performed in 11 motion pictures, the most famous of which was the 1936 film of Jerome Kern's musical Show Boat. Although the conventions of the time limited the roles available to an African-American artist, Robeson was active in the cause of civil rights, and his advocacy helped to ease...