Paul Robeson on Othello (1958)

[@StevenParrisWard]

What a giant of a man and such an intelligent and generous soul. Astonishing to see him speak in this interview. Many thanks.

[@elena16350]

Paul’s enthusiasm just captures your spirit, he’s electric, what a man, every black man should know who he is, he should be lionised by the black community.

[@Freefromtoxicity]

Everybody should know Paul Robeson!!

[@kenneth7826]

The great Paul Robeson..one of my heroes ..peace

[@bereketdesta2593]

​​@jazdtildawn Paul as he call us " my peoole" was our spokes man as blacks i. AFRICA. BRAZIL, THE CARIBBEAN AND NEGROS..

[@lizziecondon2194]

An utter, utter legend. I listen to his singing often - irreplaceable.

[@litoxxlito_axx7318]

I’m simply blessed to have just learned about this man.

[@stedye]

Love his link of the poetry and cadence of Othello with the oral tradition of Africans and Minister tradition of his father .

[@donschmidt8203]

What an asinine society this great man suffered through. Paul Robeson was Othello, in all his brilliance and suffering. Remarkably, you see no outward anger or resentment in this amazing man. There has never been a man in recorded history with such insane gifts. Robeson spent his entire existence with a bullseye on his back, simply for being different. Primitive man has always feared anything dissimilar to himself and Paul Robeson was more dissimilar than anyone! Not only was he black in a racist society but he outshined these chimpanzees on every level. Only a heartless, brainless jackass devoid of humanity could foster hate for one so divine in form. These men were the Scarecrow and the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. They had no heart or brain. Impermeable to earthly reason. Paul Robeson was too beautiful for this world. His enemies were too grotesque in nature to have existed at all.

[@hallu6666]

What a giant of a man. The force of his voice multiplied by the energy of his convictions - nothing short of an atom bomb.

[@Tenderness1959]

such a sympathetic man; he is still and remains in my heart.

[@sockpuff]

Love the bones of this man.

[@ellenringer5236]

Superb genius of a man, actor, human being and soldier.

[@floydpattersonii4996]

I had the honor of portraying him in a one man play entitled "Paul Robeson" written by Phillip Hayes Dean. It was a community theater production. I was blown away at what I learned about him through the production. He achieved unimaginable distinction during a time that was considered the most racist in America. Thank you Paul Robeson for moving us all forward and for all that you sacrificed in doing so

[@debianation]

What a wonderful man!!!

[@kenlove1472]

His performance of Othello was surely something to see!!!

[@davonjohnson6117]

An great Man! Super Talented. Very Gifted. Thanks for posting there is a lot of education in this video!

[@majkus]

I have a lithograph by artist Edward Biberman of Robeson as Othello, signed by the artist _and_ autographed by Robeson. It is perhaps my most prized possession, for what it is, and for the family history it represents.

[@craigridley7369]

What an enormous man. Literally and metaphorically.

[@tatianalyulkin410]

Well, he was a professional football player. People tend to forget that. 😂

[@bobmcgahey1280]

This is stunning

[@coleeandro6110]

Eternal rest grant unto Mr. Robeson, oh Lord And may perpetual light shine upon him May his soul, through the mercy of God Rest in peace Amen

[@bobmcgahey1280]

Lord Jesus you suffered on the cross--accept your servant's Paul Robeson and receive him into Paradise

[@ttcherrick]

Incredibly deep and analytical mind at work here. Could not turn it off. Only other actor with as profound a grasp of what Shakespeare was trying to do was (maybe) Orson Welles (not including British actors, who have an unfair advantage to my mind!)

[@AnthonyAvery]

Agreed!

[@metteholm4833]

What an intelligent, sympathetic man!

[@brahilly]

Where could such a spirit come? Wihin a few moments we're aware that this is someone of a profound nature.

[@antoniod]

He's in such good form here, considering what he'd been through. Too bad his health deteriorated so soon after this.

[@bestbeji8195]

A Great Man indeed.

[@kevinhu8881]

great vid

[@oludotunjohnshowemimo434]

He could sing those deep bass notes.

[@68mlk]

I love Robeson's replies. The host keeps trying to downplay the political dimension of the play, to argue that racism doesn't matter in Othello, that it is about jealousy, about poetry, but Robeson has an insightful reply every time.

[@Spectrescup]

It's fair for an interviewer to push their subject. That's how you tend to get insightful replies, not that Mr. Robeson would have provided anything less.

[@68mlk]

@@Spectrescup it's not a matter of being fair or unfair. BBC is politically and ideologically biased and Robeson refuses to dance to their tune.

[@Spectrescup]

​@68mlk I doubt you have the knowledge or sophistication to even to begin to explain the nuances of bias, real or imagined, the internal and external factors to which and by which they were beholden, how this 'bias' differed across it's numerous departments, let alone the weight of history which saw enormous changes in policy and attitude between the clip here in 1958 and the late 70's, or indeed between Thatcherism and today. Instead you resort to the tedious and clichéd right-wing bleat about the BBC being x or y and not z as you'd prefer.

[@68mlk]

@@Spectrescup how could I love Paul Robeson and be on the right? Whatever gave you that impression? Learn your grammar first, possessive pronoun its does not have an apostrophe.

[@Spectrescup]

@@68mlk phones tend to autocorrect its into it's, but that's easier than addressing why you're yet another BBC bias bore, without even addressing the macrocosmic implications of interviewing Paul Robeson in 1958.

[@gustijames]

The real star! He was discredited because of his respect to Soviet Union egalitarianism.

[@tatianalyulkin410]

Was he really? Considering America has been in bed with the Ukrainian Nazis since 1945. Who the hell are we to judge anyone?

[@sheltv100]

Who do you think was your low voiced hero? Barry White or Paul Robeson?

[@eboronkay]

Robeson for sure

[@gavinpatterson8001]

Both

[@sallymilgate4858]

The Best interpretation, I believe ever at Stratford, he embodied Othello. Another person maybe white, or yellow hue of skin can Not understand that struggle.

[@tatianalyulkin410]

How do I love Goddaddy- let me count the ways!

[@davidwisternoff5548]

Whattaguy !!!

[@jaymillymills]

How myopic the interviewer was. Shakespeare has always been intended to be complex. He seems like one of those " I try not to see race" , in denial, kind of people. How can he not see that the play can BOTH be about race and jealousy.

[@moominpic]

British society was very different to American society. At that time there was not a huge Black community in UK so racism was perhaps not such an obvious thing for a British audience

[@ecrivailleries]

idk i get the impression that the interviewer was quite genuine and sincere, it just in our current context that you can force him into the "i don tsee race" category