"It is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to join you in paying tribute to a great American who through his world-wide acclaim brought honor and esteem to Rutgers University.

Paul Robeson was a scholar and outstanding athlete and one of the greatest singers and actors in this country. But Paul Robeson is more than these. He is a man of great integrity and compassion whose dedication to social justice is an example for us all."

Signed: Edward J. Bloustein, President Rutgers University This communication was read at Somerville's Celebration of Paul Robeson's 75th Birthday in May, 1973.

Much has been written and repeated of the exploits of Paul Robeson. In Somerville we are fully aware of his sensational prowess on the athletic fields of Somerville High School and Rutgers University.

His accomplishments in other fields of endeavor have been recognized throughout the world.

At Rutgers he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was valedictorian of his class. He was a debating champion. Also a member of the student council and was tapped for Cap and Skull, the Junior Honorary Society. Afterwards in Eugene O'Neill and Shakespearian plays he was called by George Jean Nathan of The American Mercury "one of the most thoroughly eloquent, impressive and convincing actors I have looked at in almost twenty years of professional theatre-going."

After a concert in Chicago a critic said, "I have just heard the finest of all Negro voices and one of the most beautiful in the world. In the soft resonance, and in sympathetic appeal, and in organ-like ease and power it is distinguished among the great voices of the times.

OF MORE SIGNIFICANCE ---

Even more significant than his tremendous cultural attainments he became involved in the civil rights movement. During World War II he gave many free concerts for American troops which, according to U.S.O. officials were better received than any others. After the war Robeson led the picket lines at the White House declaring that "Jim Crow must go". He testified before Congressional Committees on Civil Rights legislation. He urged Congress to open Major League to black athletes. He formed The American Crusade to End Lynching. The names of Robeson and W.E.B. Dubois were linked as the foremost crusaders for the underprivileged.

Never was wealth the prime pursuit of Robeson's endeavors. To illustrate this fact he was promised an incredible, for those days a one million dollar package to meet Jack Dempsey for the world championship. Robeson turned it down. Another example, one of the largest coffee manufacturers offered him $25,OOO.OO to do a few minute commercial. Again Robeson turned it down.

Robeson was becoming more and more involved in the affairs of Black America. Explaining this he said, "I couldn't live with my conscience, feeling I was getting the gravy." Despite his celebrity status, he was forced to travel in segregated railroad cars, ride in freight elevators at private clubs and unable to obtain a hotel room. He never sought preferential treatment -- only for an end to Jim Crow laws. But America was insensitive to civil rights. When Henry Wallace launched his Progressive ticket against Harry Truman, Robeson became one of that movement's prominent supporters. He believed Wallace's platform of peace and civil rights. He was seriously mentioned as a potential running mate on the Wallace ticket.

As he became involved in civil rights, he gave concerts for Jewish refugees from Nazism. He traveled to Spain to sing to the Loyalist soldiers as they fought Franco's Fascist armies, He identified with future Third World leaders who gratefully accepted his advice and assistance.

He still remembers Somerville. A few weeks ago he learned through a mutual friend that I had been ailing. He sent me a get well card and he wrote that "I often think of Somerville and my old friends there."

He made a great number of recordings, one of which was the memorable Ballad for Americans in 1939. Here are just a few lines of this ballad sung by Robeson on C.B.S. Pursuit of Happiness program:

"Man in white skin can never be free
While his Black brother is in slavery
Out of the chanting, out of the shouting,
Out of the windbags, the patriotic spouting,
Out of uncertainty and doubting,
Out of the carpet bag and brass spittoon,
It will come again -- our marching song will come again,
Simple as a hit tune, deep as our valleys,
High as our mountains, strong as the people who made it".

Now when he was scaling to unprecedented heights of fame, he sought to aid his own people in these areas most vital to their existence -- to improve wages, hours, living conditions and to abolish discrimination in employment and education.

Robeson spoke out boldly protesting the outrages committed against his people. So the wrath of those men on power was brought down on him. Halls were closed to him, he was pilloried by Congressional Committees, his stalemates were suppressed or distorted from their original meanings, Finally, after silencing his voice in this country, his passport to travel abroad was revoked at a time when his popularity and prestige around the world were at an all-time high.

Concerning this period in Robeson's life, W.E.B. Dubois, Black America's distinguished historian-philosopher declared, "The persecution of Paul Robeson by the government end people of the United States has been the most contemptible happenings in modern history".

Paul Robeson, whose accomplishments had been a source of pride to a generation of Americans, was urged to disown his past and grovel before the witch-hunters. By recanting he could have continued his career, traveled freely, and cleared the innuendos and undocumented charges. Robeson did not and will not apologize for his convictions. In 1961 Robeson was stricken with a circulatory ailment. Shortly after his wife died he moved to Philadelphia. He stays with his sister, Mrs. Marion Forsyth. a retired school teacher. His phone number is unavailable and his family refuses to make any exceptions to Robeson's request for privacy.

However he taped a public statement that was played at the 1973 Carnegie Hall 75th Birthday Celebration. "I want you to know that I am the same Paul, dedicated to the world-wide cause of humanity, peace and brotherhood though ill health has compelled my retirement you can be sure that my heart I go on singing:

"But I keeps laughing
Instead of crying,
I must keep fighting
Until I'm dying,
And Ol' Man River
Just keeps rolling along|"

4-2-74 Sam Woldin