Paul Robeson: The First Black Star | TIFF 2017

[@thisrandomdude2880]

Paul Robeson once stated in front of a committee out for his blood, that he felt like a real human being for the first time in his life when he visited Russia (i.e the USSR). When asked why he wouldn't just stay in Russia, he responded proudly, that his father was a slave, that his ancestors died to build this country, and that he had as much a right to decide its fate as any other man present, and fight against the neo-fascists in power! He was a wonderful man, with a wonderful mind, able to form beautiful declarations, which I simply cannot portray in such a way that would do him justice.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Robeson was a vile Communist who supported Stalin's genocides.

[@jimboy419]

Wikipedia says he quit acting in movies voluntarily because he wasn't happy with the roles he could get. He became a concert singer and political activist. Also, he was a victim of the Anti-communist wave after WW2 which is why his passport was revoked. Thanks for making this - more people should know about him.

[@dania7124]

I admire Paul Robeson dearly.

[@Trund27]

Dania Same. What an incredible man.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

It’s a shame most people are unaware of this genius. It’s even sadder he lived in the time he did. Today, he would be an enormously popular star, probably an EGOT winner. I don’t think there are enough accolades to describe this man. Exceptionally brilliant, a gifted athlete, a singing (and speaking!) voice few equalled, an actor of astonishing brilliance and so, so brave. Not to mention he was easy on the eyes. I would encourage those unfamiliar with him to seek out his films, music and speeches. Talk about a real American hero! Absolutely phenomenal.

[@b.boston8529]

My dad spoke about him and Sidney Poitier all the time and of course, sang his music, but never without speaking of Paul Robeson's character.

[@Tedisntakidanymore]

As a tight end at Rutgers, Paul Robeson was named to the All-America team......twice. He was also the valedictorian of his class. That's how special he was.

[@nomi4560]

Paul Robeson must never be forgotten. He left his mark on the struggle for racial equality.

[@kelinmemphis]

When he sung, " IM TIRED OF LIVING BUT SCARED OF DYING ", In SHOW BOAT WAS SAD BUT SOO BEAUTIFUL.

[@lateishaclement]

That had me too. It was so poignant.

[@jonahdommett1403]

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to have met this man, Paul’s voice is incredible with how powerful he projects it. I’m a simp for Paul Robeson Miss ya Paul man

[@elena16350]

Interesting as this was, it doesn’t come anywhere near describing Paul Robeson the man, he was an enormous figure in the 20 century, no one else comes close the man was simply a genius, one day when Hollywood starts to make decent films, they will attempt a portrayal of the great man, but it will be a total flop because it’s impossible to portray even half the.wonderful gifts that Paul gave to the human race.

[@elrededwards863]

I am over 50 and never know this history Africans people fighting standing up

[@shawncurtis3686]

Agreed, screen depictions are typically superficial re-enactments of well known events affirming the audiences sense of nostalgia, not the heart and soul of the human who lived it.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

I can’t even imagine a movie coming close to fully portraying this genius. Some people you just can’t adequately capture because there’s just too much of them to fully absorb in a 2 hour film. Maybe a mini series would be a better bet, but the casting would have to be phenomenal.

[@MsAppleofhiseye]

Handsome, talented and for his People. Body and soul was how I was introduced to him. Stellar man.

[@blurrykillua5439]

Why aren't we taught about this amazing man in school? Such a damn shame that i found out about this man and everything he stood for throughout his lifetime from the internet instead of the institutions that are supposed to educate us about the true nature of our history. He deserves to be more widely remembered.

[@huntersquad682]

I'm trying to learn more about him.. so far I admire him

[@elrededwards863]

I am too he was real we have to keep him in our history books so our children will be inspired

[@cosmicphil4445]

There are some very good biographies, including a 2-volume one by his son, Paul Robeson Jnr. What this documentary doesn't mention is the role his wife Eslanda (Essie) played in starting off his singing and acting career. She was also a pioneering Black woman, anthropologist and activist at a time when women barely had a political voice. They've both been erased from political and cultural history. There's an excellent award-winning monodrama by writer/performer Tayo Aluko, Call Mr Robeson (which I designed) which has been touring the UK and Internationally for over 11 years. 😊

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

@@cosmicphil4445 I would love to see your work! Thank you for what I am sure is a fine show. Is it coming to the US Amy time soon?

[@brutusalwaysminded]

They really tried to erase him from history. Too powerful. Thanks.

[@shawncurtis3686]

He didn't back down, he was forthright and had implacable conviction.

[@ኣምበላይ]

Someone needs to make a movie about him

[@rdwrdw3672]

Wouldn't do him justice

[@lolakepi]

A movie where his true life would not be portrayed ? Like Harriet Tubman or Mrs CJ Walker. No thanks. our heroes do not need to be ridiculed by Hollywood or Netflix.

[@mamatoto5387]

exactly

[@cosmicphil4445]

There have been several attempts to do so, but I think he's still considered too politically risky by the US establishment, even 40+ years after his death.

[@caxzrockz]

Steve McQueen is

[@drlucyquine6773]

He truly was the perfect man

[@alanle1471]

He was a truly remarkable, wonderful and incredible imperfect human being! Being human means imperfect.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Stunning in so many great ways.

[@allymayful]

What an excellent tribute of my Welsh dad's hero - thank you.

[@casteretpollux]

Yes all my family in Wales loved and respected him as a socialist and a singer and as a man.

[@allymayful]

@@casteretpollux An amazing human being!

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

He was quite popular in the U.K.

[@allymayful]

@@shimmeringfairydust3275 And the Scotch. He was a champion for miners.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

@@allymayful Yes, he was an advocate for all those he felt were dispossessed of their rights, including the Scotch and miners. Just an outstanding human being.

[@kenneth7826]

Paul Robeson..the renaissance man...

[@zabaleta66]

I only knew of Paul Robeson as the singer....Old Man River. Fascinating guy.

[@alanle1471]

He was a brilliant intellectual , artistic and academic talent who could speak over thirty languages.

[@livencali1]

What a soulful voice! I love you Paul

[@rahmanmadison4967]

What an admirable ancestor👑🏆✊🏿

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

The best, most forgotten freedom fighter. He fought for his people, and for workers around the globe. In one interview he mentions his admiration for the Welsh people, and how they were a " very musical people". Now this is coming from one of the greatest bass singers of all time 😂... He was truly a human giant.

[@alvaroanacona7138]

He’s voice is absolutely awesome.

[@lowl123]

Paul robeson never forgotten 💯🖤✊🇺🇸

[@SaudiaTate]

Thank you for this video! So full of information and history. Glad to now know more about my people's roots.

[@cosmicphil4445]

There's so much more to Robeson than what's covered here. Seek out a biography, he led an astonishing life

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

I wish more Americans (especially white ones) would know and appreciate this genius, as well as many other great African Americans.

[@JStarStar00]

It's disappointing a major biopic movie hasn't been made on Paul Robeson.

[@dabearcub]

Why? Biopics suck.

[@ThePharaoho]

@@dabearcub Not the Josephine Baker Story.

[@dabearcub]

@@ThePharaoho Good huh? I’ll check it out.

[@angelaeisenhardt41755]

I was trying to find a movie about him and I'm surprised there isn't one either. It really got me and I was trying when he was being interrogated for being a communist or affiliated with them. He was so eloquent. Such a strong defiant demeanor.

[@piretiris8223]

The USSR really loved his music

[@Bembeleke]

Paul Robeson was excellence at everything he did whether it was music theatre politics sports civil rights he was a true perfectionist coming from a family tree of very prominent significant people. God bless you brother.

[@uchedave6424]

Yes,you are right --- robeson came from family tree of The Igbos of Africa. Everything about his life is a testament to that fact. You can research on that ,yourself.

[@bernicevenable8885]

We must thank you for this video on Paul Robeson. But, it is long overdue!

[@elrededwards863]

U so right

[@dennispearson9287]

A. GREAT. SOUL !!!

[@Grimnebulin]

what a man, what a mighty good man

[@dianefrancesco9271]

He is very powerful and that voice was great.

[@jenniferhaynes8625]

Been an admirer for years.

[@thatguy6919]

So many people here triggered by the comparison to Kapernick, you're the same people who would be happy to see Paul blacklisted in his day. We need to ensure no one is punished for speaking out in our so called representative democracy.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

It’s so interesting - England, you know that country we broke away from to pursue freedom? Paul was treated much better there than in his homeland. He even had an affair with a famous white actress (Peggy Ashcroft). He was summoned for a command performance at Buckingham Palace and was befriended by the Members of Parliament (MPs) from the House of Commons. This was roughly 1928-32. Can you imagine an American President inviting a Black Man to perform at the White House then, even though he was an American citizen and sublimely brilliant and talented? Sad, sad, sad. Such is the treatment of American POCs, especially African Americans. Even today!

[@boomstick_]

@@shimmeringfairydust3275 He also visited the Soviet Union and said that for the first time he felt like a human since he wasn't looked down upon. Very interesting that Americas "main enemy" had more respect for an American citizen than the American government itself.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

@@boomstick_ I read about that, too. Communism has its problems (any type of government does), but I can see why he was attracted to it. It treated him much better than the US did. He even had his son educated there. TCM is running his movies on Sunday nights this month. I would urge everyone to watch them. Some are better than others, but any film that gives you an opportunity to hear that marvelous, marvelous voice & his acting gifts is worth watching.

[@directorytaliwag4100]

Thank you for this previous film.

[@adambrown3918]

Thank you so much! I didn't know much about Mr. Robeson. This is fantastic. You have a new subscriber. 😊

[@ThePharaoho]

Robeson is my favorite historical person.

[@kincamell2]

Much Gratitude.

[@nkwari]

Well done tribute!!!

[@elrededwards863]

We Africans know what they did to him

[@lapx1]

@@elrededwards863 looks like didnt play the victum when back then u had a reason

[@peterhoare3754]

Thank you for this. I wonder if humans will ever come to terms with the fact that there's only one human race.

[@davonjohnson6117]

Thanks for posting! I enjoy it...

[@Sdutt_author]

A video worth watching and sharing.

[@honestperson6280]

Even though Eddie Murphy is the most popular black movie actor, Paul Robeson was the first and most influential!

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

And far, far, far more talented & brilliant.

[@SandfordSmythe]

Was Eddie All-American Football, valedictorian of his class at Rutgers, Law Degree from Columbia?

[@marcello8129]

It’s very interesting that I heard of his name for the first time in China.

[@michaelbull2939]

always a legend especially couse im welsh

[@Trund27]

More People of Colour’s history, art, culture!!!!!!!!!!

[@Jerry-xs1eg]

I've enjoyed watching!

[@isammolina4842]

Gran artista.Sufrio por el mccarthysmo.Un señor.🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃💔

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Gracias.

[@badillacarlos]

Good man

[@donschmidt8203]

What a champion for the entire human race. Quite possibly the 20th century's greatest human figure. It almost seems as if slavery was hundreds of years ago but this was the son of a freed slave! No wonder this towering figure found himself attacked by backwoods racists. Robeson was the complete embodiment of everything they were not. The entire crux of segregation is to push a group so deep into the background that nothing can be recognized. The invisible man as the great writer Ellison penned. Paul Robeson in his manly dignity screamed SEE ME! in the slightest gesture. Like the great Jackie Robinson he risked everything for a cause greater than himself. The movie Birth of a Nation screamed racist ignorance off the screen and fanned the flames of bigotry. The KKK exploded in its ranks due to D.W Griffiths moronic depiction of an entire race. Now the irony is the black man shines in everything from the athletic field to the stage. Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson took Jim Crow and made the racists choke on it. We will never see their like again.

[@hardheadjarhead]

A very impressive man.

[@donschmidt8203]

One additional comment, look at the power of his presence, even in silent films! Just his physical expressiveness alone transcended his peers. I actually misspoke. Combined with his voice, Robeson literally had no peer. Such a man lives once in several centuries. More like several millennia. Talent pre ordained by God himself.

[@Chuck_A_Luck_Stank]

GOAT #blackhistorychalenge 🖤💜👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽👏🏼💪🏾👍🏾💯💓🎶🕺🏾🏀💨

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

What a standup human being. And his legacy was smeared by McCarthyism and pure racism. I'll never forget Mr. Robeson and will pass on his great music and legacy!

[@kathleenburke45]

A gifted artist who stood erect for human rights. especially worker's rights. So sad that Jackie Robinson denounced him at the HUAC committee. Robeson would never have done that.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

I think Jackie had to. Otherwise, his career was over. He probably hated doing it, but Blacks had few options back then.

[@gyorgyibaunok773]

Correcting I was 13 years old whenn Paul Robertson came Szeged city. I try what was abouth the song from the Mississippi River. He songed hungarian thx

[@johnerwin9024]

Good on camera, speaking voice, country's loss when he left films :(

[@ewardprince4342]

Black is a color it is not a nationality it is not a race it is a color , once those who called them self Black 1 day will wake up and realize who they are and what they are then take there rightful place in this world .

[@isammolina4842]

Y Marian Anderson?🌹🍃🌹🍃

[@elrededwards863]

He lead the way forward for al Africans liberation took up the fight in America after Marcus Garvey was taken away yes

[@skander5938]

It should've been mentioned that he was a proud communist (note the small c, rather than a capital C, since he never officially joined the CPUSA), instead of using "euphemistic" terms like "proponent of social justice" or "involved and interested in labour struggles" . Expressing openly communist views during the McCarthy era, thereby risking his entire career, was arguably his bravest position; it should've been mentioned in this, albeit cursory and short, documentary.

[@SandfordSmythe]

It was a decision on both sides not to join the Party

[@HKMUSICWORLDTV]

🙏🏾👑👊🏾

[@matthewfergudon8627]

Samurai black movie 1950 Japan Actors

[@Vivacious_Lenin]

my man was a Marxist Leninist. Very based.

[@osarumenerhunmwunsee]

Paul Robeson is a Nigerian American. He has Igbo descendant

[@piglet2548]

Who are you looking at????

[@ashleyclark7700]

You mate

[@Mrgattes1]

CIA took him out. He was actually a real role model for black youth and they couldn't have that.

[@chriswilliams6896]

Shanon Sharpe looks just like him

[@whateverrrrrr123]

He is the first Ali

[@gyorgyibaunok773]

I wasn't years old when Paul Robertson come to Hungary.Is absolutely not correct his travel there. I live in Szeged/dr Szent-Gyorgyi Albert University is there with a huge open theater. There Paul Robertson in hungarian languages was singing. I never forget about the Mississippi River and the bend so was saking from the from the sad singing from the black people and the winds blowing far away the sad song. So Mr Robertson went not just Budapest but Szeged also thx

[@somnathbanerjee2534]

বিনম্র শ্রদ্ধা অঞ্জলি

[@TonyHasnip]

Jack Johnson?

[@mitchross4002]

Who tf thinks Denzel Washington or Will Smith was the first black celebrity?

[@TheBengalDragon]

I thought the reason this man was ostracized was because he was too sympathetic to communism. From what I’ve think, he perhaps did not understand the extremely widespread bad things that were going on in the communist world. Many people were mistreated and many people died in the millions in the communist world. I’m sure if he knew the full extent he would not be that supportive of those regimes. Still, he was an extremely gifted talent and had he or something of his talent been alive today or someone with his talent been alive today, they would be the greatest voice actor of all time And Innoway I am speaking from a bit of vicarious experience. The struggles of my people also had someone who wanted to work with another person who happens to be history’s biggest monster. I cannot support this person of my people who a lot of my people unfortunately hold in high regard

[@connorsganga8843]

Robeson was erased from U.S. history because he understood what was happening in the USSR, China, Africa, etc. etc. He knew the truth. Everything that the U.S. teaches about the "Evils of Communism" are lies and propaganda.

[@TheBengalDragon]

@@connorsganga8843 that is where you are wrong. To an extended might be propaganda but history actually teaches us that most of what the world has said about communism is actually true. And besides, communism is a concept that is destined to fail by design because it goes against human nature. Examples of communism have very bad reputation. Robeson was not the only African-American to go to the USSR. However a lot of them went to the USSR because they were disillusioned so much with the American system that they would except any other alternative. He was desperate for an alternative, and people make very bad choices in desperation

[@whateverrrrrr123]

Singer Footballer Actor Politician Lawyer Activist

[@ktoth29]

We don't know much because 1. He was a communist sympathizer and the right wing blacklisted him in the 50's and 2. He was a successful black man who grew up before the civil rights era so left wing blacklisted him in the 60's

[@batmanmattison9465]

What about the communism? He had lost his passport because he was suspected of being a communist supporter in the Red Scare.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

What about it? At least the Russians treated him like a regular human being. I’m not a fan of communism, but given the treatment of him and his people in the US, he felt communism was fairer to Blacks. Which says a LOT about the U.S. at the time, none of it good.

[@1917girl]

And a communist through and through! ✊

[@melclo3641]

Treated so badly by his own country.

[@octaviouswillingham8458]

Obscurity? In the US maybe...

[@jefb2361]

I see a Tyler Perry movie on the horizon....

[@ericdovigi7927]

Creepy ass smile in the thumbnail xD

[@TheAndrew1987]

dont compare robeson with kapernik jesus christ

[@marcello8129]

It’s very interesting that I heard of his name for the first time in China.