Paul Robeson Materials from
Syracuse Cultural Workers

CELEBRATE PAUL ROBESON'S 100th BIRTHDAY!

"This amazing man, this great intellect, this magnificent genius with his overwhelming love of humanity is a devastating challenge to a society built on hypocrisy, greed and profit-seeking at the expense of commmon humanity."
-- The New York Times

PAUL ROBESON (April 9, 1898-January 23, 1976), the son of an escaped slave, was a figure of world-wide stature, yet few people are aware of his accomplishments. Racism and repression due to his political activism are two reasons his legacy has been kept invisible.

Paul was twice an All-American football player. He was a scholar, an orator, and a dazzling star in eleven feature films, on the concert stage, and in the theatre. He used his deep, baritone voice to promote black spirituals, to act as a cultural ambassador to other countries, and to benefit social movements. In 1933 he donated his proceeds from the musical All God's Chillin to Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler's Nazi Germany. In the 40's he championed a federal anti-lynching law and spoke against growing cold war hostilities.

During the anti-communist hysteria of the early 50's, Paul was targeted by HUAC, the House Un-American Activities Committee. Paul courageously called it an attack on the democratic rights of all people. Eighty of his concerts were cancelled and his passport was revoked for eight years, but he continued to speak out. He made his last concert tour in 1960 and retired from public life in 1963.

(click on any image
to view a larger version)

Buttons, Posters, ...

"The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative." -- Paul Robeson, Voice of the People, April 9 1898-Jan 23, 1976
      Button #1350, $1.50** (6+ $1.25)
  Paul Robeson by Keren Kerney
This vivid, detailed image celebrates the achievements of this internationally acclaimed singer, actor, and activist whose career suffered during the anti-Communist hysteria of the 1950's, on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Watercolor.
      Poster: 18x24, P452CW...$14 (poster is April art in 1998 Peace Calendar)
      Notecard: 5x7 blank, C671CW-06...6/$8.95
      Postcard: 4x6, T690CW-12...12/$6.95

Books & Pamphlets

  Paul Robeson's Living Legacy by Barbara Armentrout and Sterling Stuckey.
photographs, biography, timeline of his life, teaching and study resources
      Softcover, 8.5x11", 24pp, 1999, ISBN 0-935155-26-0, $7.95
  Here I Stand by Paul Robeson.
Paul's autobiography and manifesto written in 1958 in response to his right wing accusers
      Softcover, 5.5x8, 160pp., 1958, 1997 edition, K112CP...$12
  The Whole World In His Hands by Susan Robeson (Paul's granddaughter)
With hundreds of wonderful photographs this is a sympathetic and enormously moving book.
      Softcover, 8.5x11, 256pp., 1981, new 1997 edition, K110CP...$18.95
  Paul Robeson Speaks edited by Philip S. Foner
Excellent book of writings, speeches, interviews. Many photographs.
      Softcover, 6x9, 623pp., 1978, new 1997 edition, K111CP...$18.95

CD's and Tapes

  Paul Robeson Live At Carnegie Hall -- May 9, 1958
Contains: Old Man River; Freedom, Joe Hill; monologue from Othello; Chinese children's song; Jacob's Ladder; Chassidic chant; and more.
      CD: 6001-CD...$16.95.
  Ballad For Americans and great Songs of Faith, Love and Patriotism
Contains: Ballad For Americans by Earl Robinson -- John Latouche with American People's Chorus; Shenandoah; Go Down Moses; John Brown's Body; and more.
      CD 6002-CD...$16.95
      Tape 6003-Tape...$12.95
  The Essential Paul Robeson
Contains: Old Man River; Every Time I Feel The Spirit; Volga Boat Song; Ballad For Americans; Joe Hill; Joshua Fought The Battle of Jericho; My Curly Headed Baby; and more.
      Tape 6004-Tape...$12.95

Two Films on one video

Paul Robeson: Tribute To An Artist
by Saul J. Turell, narrated by Sidney Poitier, won an Academy Award for best short documentary. (1979, Color, 29 min.)
  Eugene O'Neill's Emperor Jones
directed by Dudley Murphy. Paul's portrayal of a despotic emperor on a Caribbean island paved the way for more multi-dimensional screen roles for African Americans. (1933, B&W, 72 min.)
      Video 6000-V...$29.95

** All of SCW's Robeson materials are available at a substantial discount (30%-50%) for FUNDRAISING by Robeson groups, schools, unions, churches, synagogues, and all community organizations.
To order:
Visa and Mastercard accepted.
Individuals: call 315-474-1132
Groups/Co-ops/Stores: call Donna at 315-474-1132 x102
Each distributed item (books, CDs, videos) should carry an annotation with: the price, s&h cost, and the text "availabile from Syracuse Cultural Workers, 315-474-1132, fax: 315-475-1277"

SYRACUSE CULTURAL WORKERS (SCW) is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1982. We publish and distribute multicultural resources. Our mission is to help create a culture that honors diversity and celebrates community; that inspires and nurtures justice, equality and freedom; that respects our fragile Earth and all its beings; that encourages and supports all forms of creative expression. We see cultural work as an essential part of and support for political and economic change. Many of our materials celebrate movements for social change and their leaders, thus helping to legitimize history that is largely ignored or trivialized by commercial media and school textbooks. SCW also helps to unite socially concerned artists with a growing audience hungry for meaningful artwork.


SYRACUSE CULTURAL WORKERS
TOOLS FOR CHANGE
P.O. Box 6367, Syracuse NY 13217, USA
(315) 474-1132. Fax: (315) 475-1277

For contacts and information about Robeson celebrations:
Paul Robeson 100th Birthday Committee
web: http://pobox.com/~robeson
email: robeson.centenial@pobox.com