Paul Robeson testifying at the House Un-American Activities Committee

Comrade Robeson gives a timelessly inspiring speech against racism, imperialist war, and capitalism. In arguing for full freedom against an American "court" (unconstitutional and undemocratic), Robeson affirms the liberation movement of the socialists and exposes the oppressive nature of capitalist dictatorship.
This recording is a re-enactment by James Earl Jones.
For more on the life and contribution of this great working class hero, watch this video: • Paul Robeson, Stalin a...
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[@authenticbaguette6673]

He was being interrogated by a bunch of the most powerful fascists of the country, yet he still had the courage and the nerves to verbally drag them in the mud. What a chad.

[@michaeljones5327]

Wow!!!! A new hero has been born in my heart and mind! Awesome man!

[@Dhumm81]

It's a crime that none of our "teachers" taught us about Paul Robeson in school. Then again, it's criminal the way they *DID* "teach" (either vilify or sanitize and co-opt) other working class heroes.

[@Dhumm81]

@marko stathis Yes, I know, which is pointed out in multiple comments on every upload of this (often inaccurately titled) speech re-enactment on YT. If I hadn't known that, it would only make me ignorant, not a fool, but your response would still make you sound like an asshole. "I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?"

[@Dhumm81]

@marko stathis Do you understand that you're talking to/about other human beings? You made an incorrect presumption about me and called me a fool, and now you're baselessly asserting that the uploader is an intentional deceiver, rather than mistaken/misinformed. I get that we're all assholes sometimes (especially online spaces where we're manipulated to behave like assholes), but to not acknowledge it and apologize harms yourself as much as others.

[@Dhumm81]

@marko stathis Stop. You are a presumptive and slanderous jerk who refuses to admit they're wrong or apologize after being a presumptive and slanderous jerk. Because of that, I don't care about anything you have to say. Nothing. I don't care about people who don't care about other people.

[@watsondontaable]

They don't want true history taught. They want focused and biased history taught.

[@mumkaimusic]

I really do feel robbed going to public school. All I remember is coloring fucking maps in high school. Its only when I went to college how much I realized LAUSD literally hid these incredible people from us for one reason or another. Not to mention glossing over a whole generation of Native Americans which were reduced to saying they were moved some where else while the countless atrocities we did to them were simply ignored.

[@barrytuck9933]

I have been a huge fan of Paul Robeson since first hearing him sing on one of my dad's records. Such an awesome voice. Then I went to Rutgers, and found out he had been an All American football player there. Then I found out he had been the first Black Law Graduate of Columbia University. Then I found out that, at the prime of his singing career, the US Government shut him down because he spoke up for the poor, the racially oppressed, etc..

[@SandfordSmythe]

Valedictorian of his class. Elected to the most elitist social honor fraternity at Rutgers. He kept his cool on the football team, but one player harassed him. He literally picked him up to the air and threw him to the ground.

[@asderc1]

Don't forget the acting career!

[@AsSudan33]

@@SandfordSmytheyes he was immense 🫶🏾

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

My father played Paul Robeson records for me too. My father told me later about how Robeson had been harassed.

[@Rulinator]

Wales loves Paul Robeson. While he was denied his passport he sang over the phone to support Welsh miners on strike . Solidarity!

[@lordcharfield4529]

Paul Robeson had balls of steel! True hero ✊

[@wilsonrains]

“In good company, I usually listen. But you know, people wander around in such fancy places.” Sniped him with that one..

[@comradepyro7337]

One of the most savage recordings ever recorded.

[@carlos_herrera]

it's Darth Vader, it's a reenactment.

[@hamburgareable]

@@carlos_herrera The hell it is.

[@carlos_herrera]

@@hamburgareable Sure, next you will tell me its's not Ed Anser (RIP) as Chairman Walter.

[@ryancollins149]

@@carlos_herrera is it still the same word for word?

[@scottchristofersen2367]

@@ryancollins149 yes. It’s from the committee transcript. It’s a reenactment but it’s powerful Stuff.

[@siauciunaite]

What a MAN ! The capital M, doesn't do him justice. He was, the New Man, Che talked of.

[@gardenlizard1586]

Great man speaking truth to a power - which as normal is racist.

[@retroblak]

I enjoyed every word. Paul was like the Muhammad Ali of law & words. Where have these types of men and orators gone? We have strong black women standing on the shoulders of giants. 2020. 🎓✊🏾⚖️🌍

[@donedeal8385]

Now you know why there's always a drumbeat of attack against our schools. THAT was the product of a public education.

[@RealEyesRealiseRealLies]

We. Need. Men. Like. Him. Today. More than. Ever.

[@francollins4036]

Great man. One of the greatest of all.

[@joeybroda9167]

Amazing that Paul Robeson is as smooth in a show trial as he is on stage.

[@SandfordSmythe]

He was a lawyer.

[@darrylsmith4044]

Only James Earl Jones could have pulled this off. While he doesn't sound exactly like Robeson he is very convincing in this re-enactment of the hearing.

[@ryancollins149]

Are these the same words that were said in the hearing or did they have to make up the script?

[@erfman2633]

​@@ryancollins149that's a bloody good question only they could answer that I would love to know I'm very sceptical.

[@cosmicmusicreynolds3266]

paul robeson is a great example to the workers. Stand up for what you believe in and don t be afraid. Remember its not oppression you should be afraid of, its the exceptbility of oppression you should be afraid of. I believe paul robeson understood this perfectly

[@wedigiday3211]

I’m surprised 😮 on how his mind worked, this is a lesson for us young people

[@brooke4627]

I learnt about Paul Robeson through my interest in Radclyffe Hall, he was well known for singing "The Blind Ploughman" and she wrote the lyrics to this song. So sad that they persecuted him in the land of the free, the U.S.A. didn`t deserve him.

[@anxietywave8735]

This is probably the most epic recording possible.

[@alvinparkinson9168]

Damn, I am in Love with this Brotha! I know a little about him but after hearing this I got to read more about him.

[@ProlTV]

Great to hear Alvin. Start with his book "Here I stand" And if you can, please considering supporting the party and our work shop.cpgb-ml.org/product/support-the-party/

[@alvinparkinson9168]

@@ProlTV O Definitely I Love everything the Communism stands for. Is there anything I could do to contribute other than financial giving? I'm in America

[@colewilson5]

@@alvinparkinson9168 Check out podcast proles of the round table- they have an episode on paul robeson. You could check out the PSL and see if there's a branch in your area. The Black Socialists of America have an excellent website with resources and a map of worker owned businesses you could get involved with. Short of that, you could start a book club in your area and organize anyone sympathetic to the cause, then build from there

[@Kunsoo1024]

Also listen to some of his music!

[@cmebans35]

Remembering Attorney Paul Robeson Actor singer songwriter and activist

[@Gestureye7x]

this is definitely among the best recordings ever done!

[@christianbandala8715]

rip, paul! the opressed people will ever love you!

[@robertlytle9752]

The House UnAmerican Committee was a blemish on the heart of the United States. It was a way for politicians to gain votes by acting like true Americans. Today these same people who get angry at people who sit or kneel during the playing of the National Anthem(I call them false patriots.) would have been cheering the HUAC. Me, I support anyone who wants to kneel or sit at the playing of the national Anthem. Peaceful protest is a hallmark of this country. By the way anyone who thinks I am a vile person supporting these protests, know this, I served as a Marine during Vietnam. USMC1969-1971

[@cosmicmusicreynolds3266]

well said . paul robeson i think would have have like what you text very much

[@doncicci9608]

Robert Lytke I like what you said and totally agree. Bless your heart for your service. I'm glad you made it through Vietnam.

[@seasn5553]

Thank you for your service and sorry that the US sent you to fight a war that shouldn’t have happened

[@hamburgareable]

Right on, brother!

[@shawn8847]

This is amazing.

[@ProlTV]

Thanks comrade - please support the party shop.cpgb-ml.org/product/support-the-party/

[@dogeyes7261]

Hero

[@johnbernadettelewis8704]

wow...I think we are there again

[@GS-zc4sk]

Can't believe Darth Vader was put on trial.

[@marshalllashley7296]

😂😂😂 yo this comment had me crying

[@vonitabynoe4766]

Darth Vader?

[@genevieveogle8591]

@@vonitabynoe4766 That is the voice of James Earl Jones.

[@marilynberry9651]

Paul Robeson's and James Earl Jones' voices sound alike.

[@jmann6130]

James Earl Jones needs to play him in a movie

[@billfreytag7410]

@@jmann6130 That IS James Earl Jones in a portrayal of Paul Robeson in a dramatic production.

[@GordonMcWilliams]

@@billfreytag7410 That said, his voice is very similar -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqayepeebplnrM0

[@billfreytag7410]

@@GordonMcWilliams Clearly, otherwise JEJ would not have been chosen to portray PR.

[@GordonMcWilliams]

@@billfreytag7410 ...... Okay Bill

[@craigwilliams9279]

Magnificent.

[@ogas_cybernetics1295]

based

[@shidapu145]

GREAT MAN..!!!

[@Kunsoo1024]

This isn't a recording of the hearing. It's a reenactment. His voice is played by James Earl Jones.

[@SBJelloBS]

@@jimdrake3436 Look in the description of the video. It says it's a re-enactment by JEJ.

[@SBJelloBS]

Also, it doesn't really have the sound of people talking at a court hearing. Not enough ambient noise.

[@SBJelloBS]

@@jimdrake3436 My primary evidence of it being a re-enactment is that the original poster of the video said it was. You're saying they are incorrect?

[@jimdrake3436]

@Sean Breinholt: When I’m wrong, I’m wrong-and in this case I was wrong. Robeson’s actual testimony is posted on Matthew Siegfried’s channel, and I will post the link below. The differences between the often halting cadence of Robeson’s speech and the scripted, smooth delivery of Jones; the differences between the timbre of Robeson’s deep bass voice and the noticeably lighter timbre of Jones’ voice; the overlapping dialogue between Robeson and the committee chair due to the latter’s constant interruptions; and the resonance of the room in which the hearing was held, as opposed to the studio in which Jones’ reconstruction was professionally recorded, are all in evidence in the acetate air-checks of Robeson’s actual testimony: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKqQqZmnhZt5hac

[@barrytuck9933]

@@jimdrake3436 Thanks for that. I can't imagine a better voice to play the part of Robeson, and frankly, don't care if it's a real recording of an actual event or not, it's a wonderful piece of history featuring two of the greatest voices ever. And it's true to history.

[@siauciunaite]

What a Man! The capital M, can't do him Justice. THIS, was the New Man, Che talked about.

[@alifmuhammadchicago]

I humbly suggest editing the title to include "dramatic representation" to avoid some confusion that I saw in Facebook. Not your fault at all.

[@matwranovics9202]

this is james earl jones playing paul robeson

[@matwranovics9202]

marko stathis you’d think the fact that one of the congressmen sounds exactly like Bruce Dern would be something of a tip off

[@carlos_herrera]

Most people who did notice probably didn't bother to comment, since it's in the description of the video.

[@staceycolangelo8940]

This is a reenactment by James Earl Jones. Does anyone know where I can find the original version?

[@francollins4036]

A giant slapping down mice.

[@adarimont]

the voice asking the questions sounds so much like ed asner

[@francollins4036]

How did the panel slime sleep at night.

[@rochellewarren5008]

BOOM

[@mesaeddie]

MY HERO!!!!

[@S0ngsyngr]

This is not Paul Robeson. This is James Earl Jones

[@alejandrozenteno2389]

Un guerrero libertario (Paul Robson) compareciendo contra un tribunal inquisidor, racista e imperialista.

[@raymondtarpley3946]

Yes👏🏿👏🏿✊🏿

[@JohnSmith-td7hd]

The white actor is also quite an actor! But he doesn't have as beautiful a voice.

[@otoyayamaguchi9279]

Who is that person talking to paul?

[@rosemma34]

Definitely not Paul Robeson's voice! It's the scary Darth Vader

[@deadmanreading3152]

Shit, if this were fiction I'd think they made the interrogators sound too mustache-twirlingly evil and arguing the villains should have more "depth." Just shows the banality of evil.

[@cjhunt9532]

cpgb-ml are cringe revisionists, but paul robeson was based

[@politicallyinaccuratetoast4757]

Are you a part of the communist party Robeson: well yes but actually no

[@cosmicmusicreynolds3266]

?

[@SandfordSmythe]

He was said not to have been a member, but this was strategic decision on his part.

[@CovenantOfLove]

I bet you find #ProjectDragonfly delicious.

[@IgorYentaltsev]

Who is the dog that's yapping questions at Robeson?

[@VincentTorneyPlus]

🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥#MAGA🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥 PAUL ROBESON WAS ONE OF US! ★🫱🏻‍🫲🏾☭#MAGAcommunism!🇺🇸🌾

[@otoyayamaguchi9279]

Is the person that is talking to Paul is a democrat?

[@somewhere6]

He is correctly calling them out on racist laws in parts of the US at that time. On the other hand, he is a total apologist for the murderous Soviet regime.

[@joeblack8915]

A hypocrite, like all so-called anti-racists.

[@carlos_herrera]

You see Joe Black's comment? That is all your comment supports.

[@everythingintheuniverse8962]

Everything you know about the Soviet Union is a lie

[@somewhere6]

@@everythingintheuniverse8962 My family history is not a lie. Take your nonsense and shove it.

[@everythingintheuniverse8962]

@@somewhere6 ur family is just a handful a people. Also history does often lie so 🤷‍♀️

[@randallwilson3232]

Stud.