Paul Robeson

Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American actor, athlete, singer, writer, and political and civil rights activist.

Education

Paul graduated with honors from Somerville High School in 1915. He won a scholarship to Rutgers University where he excelled in academics and was a four-letter man in sports. He was only the third African-American accepted at Rutgers. He wanted to attend Princeton University, but Princeton had not yet accepted an African-American. Paul was one of only three classmates at Rutgers accepted into Phi Beta Kappa. He was the class valedictorian, and became an All-American in American Football, had fifteen varsity letters, and was selected to Cap and Skull. He moved to Harlem and went on to earn a law degree at Columbia. He was in the same law school class as William O. Douglas.

Related Topics:
Rutgers University - Princeton University - Phi Beta Kappa - Valedictorian - All-American - American Football - Varsity - Cap and Skull - Harlem - Columbia - William O. Douglas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After he graduated in 1923 he became the first African-American hired at Stotesbury and Miner, one of New York's most prestigious law firms. He quit after a secretary refused to take dictation from him because of his color. Robeson also studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, where he said he was alerted to the power and strength of his heritage, by learning about the history of Africa.

Related Topics:
1923 - School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London - History of Africa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~