The man of whom I am about to speak, Paul Leroy Robeson, was one of the most controversial figures in American History. He was a two-time All-American football player at Rutgers University in 1917 and 1918. Those glory years at Rutgers University show what an outstanding athlete he was. He won his letters 12 times in four sports, yet he never was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in spite of Walter Camp calling him the greatest end to trod the gridiron. Paul Robeson was an extraordinary man. He was Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year-and valedictorian at the Class of 1919.

When Paul and his family moved to Somerville in 1912, they lived close to my home there and we became close friends. I realized there was greatness in this man even then. He became an award winning actor and singer whose great baritone voice filled concert halls around the globe.

Success came quickly to Robeson. He appeared in - All God's Children Got Wings, Porgy and Bess, and Black Boy. In 1943, he played Othello in a New York production that ran 296 performances - a record for a Shakespearean play on Broadway.

numerous movies and records followed, and in 1944 he won the Donaldson Award for the best acting performance that year. He received the Gold Medal for the best diction in American Theatre from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. But it was the stages in America, England and Russia that also gave him the platform from which to voice his views on communism and racism in America and gradually the great baritone voice that had carried him through almost three decades began to be muffled.

In 1947, a concert in Peoria, Ill. was marred by the city council which adopted a resolution disapproving of the "appearance of any speaker or artist who is an avowed propagandist for un-American ideology." Robeson retorted, "Since when in America does a city dare keep an artist out because of his political beliefs?" He was interrogated by Joseph McCarthy's Un-American Activities Committee. He finally stated that he was not now nor had he ever been a communist. He further stated that "the only thing un-American here was this committee."

Paul lived in the times when lynching of black men was a common practice in this country. He was outraged by the discrimination against his black brothers. He spoke out bravely and clearly. The controversy that he aroused was the direct results of his passionate care about his country and his people.

As a black man at Rutgers, Robeson could star in the afternoon, but not be allowed to attend the victory dinner that night.

He earned a law degree but gave up the practice of law when he realized the limited potential of a black lawyer. Then he launched on a singing career only to discover the hotels where he couldn't get a room and the restaurants where he couldn't buy a meal. In September 1975, a booklet was published in Princeton, N.J., Robeson was acclaimed for his many accomplishments. It was acknowledged that he was born in Princeton at Witherspoon Street and lived there 12 years, but he is still a non-person in his hometown. Other than his birthplace which is unmarked, there is nothing in the Princeton community to specifically honor Paul Robeson who was called a superman in ebony. Perhaps the story is unfinished.

Here is a list of honors received by Paul Robeson:

1. Rutgers University - Walter Camp chose Robeson as All-American End in 1917 and 1918.

2. Rutgers University - 12 letters in sports: football, baseball, basketball and track (discus, shot put and javelin).

3. Rutgers - University Honorary Degree Master of Arts June 1932.

4. Badge of The Veterans for those who fought for Republican Spain against Franco 1939.

5. Hamilton College, Honorary Degree Doctor of Humane Letters 1940.

6. Abraham Lincoln medal for Most Notable and Distinguished Services in Human Relations in New York City 1943.

7. Donaldson Award Best Acting Performance - Othello 1944.

8. Sold Medal Best Diction in American Theatre 1944.

9. Springarn Medal Natl. Assn. of Colored People 1945.

10. Ring worn by the Survivors of the Defense of Stalingrad inscribed to Paul Robeson the American Stalingrader 1949.

11. Champion of African Freedom Award from the National Church of Nigeria 1950.

12. Lenin Peace Prize - For Strengthening Peace among the Nations 1952.

13. Inscribed Miners Lamps from South Wales Miners 1958.

14. Moscow State Conservatory Honorary Degree Professor of Music, 1959.

15. The German Peace Medal Democratic Republic.

16. Honorary Degree from the German Democratic Republic.

17. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 1960, Humboldt University.

18. A Soviet Peak is named after Paul Robeson and his likeness is carved in the rock of a mountainside.

19. The Ira Waldridge Award from the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, 1970.

20. Pioneer in Black Achievement from the International Black Cultural and Business Exposition 1971.

21. Dedication of Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers University, 1972.

22. Solomon Fuller Award for Contributions to Promoting the Mental Health of Black Americans from the Black Psychiatrists of America.

23. Ebony Magazine lists Paul Robeson among the 10 Greats of Black History, 1972.

24. Theatre Hall of Fame from the Yale Ellington Fellowship Program.

On April 15, 1973, I attended a mammoth celebration of Paul Robeson's 75th birthday at Carnegie Hall which was led and endorsed by the following speakers and artists:

Harry Belafonte
Cesar Chavez
James Earl Jones
Loretta King
Zero Mostel
Sidney Poitier
Pete Seegar

Here is a personal anecdote which gives me pleasure whenever I think of it ..... In 1920, the year following Robeson's last year in Somerville High School I matriculated at Rutgers. In the fall, I went out to Rutgers fall baseball practice. When it was completed - I, along with a few other players and Coach General Cox strolled over to the football practice field and stood on the sidelines watching. Paul Robeson was on the field helping Coach George Foster Sanford get his team in shape. At one point, Robey as he was affectionately called at Rutgers, saw me on the sidelines and walked over to talk to me. The baseball coach said to Robeson do you know this little fellow? I sure do said Paul, he filled my shoes when I left Somerville. He was referring to the fact that I played his position which was shortstop. After this remark everyone looked down at our feet -- he wore a size 13 and mine was a 6 1/2 -- I said don't wonder, no one has ever filled Paul Robeson's shoes.

During the last 10 years I have been following Robeson's career through the newspapers, collecting a large scrap book of clippings. A close friend of Robeson's, Lloyd L. Brown who has worked with him for a good many years and was busy preparing a biography of him, called on me at Somerville to learn more about Robeson's early life in Somerville. A close friendship sprung up between us and he inspired me to continue as a Robeson booster. Soon his biography will be published and knowing what a sincere faithful person Lloyd Brown is -- I await with impatience the publishing of his book on Robeson which will soon be available. The editor of the publishing house has said this book will have to become one of the important surrogates of Paul's presence in the world. This will be a fine opportunity for the schools of America to bring Paul Robeson's life and his achievements to all youth.

In closing, I will quote from Rutgers' President Alfred Bloustein in his dedication of the student centre at Rutgers. He said, "I hereby dedicate this building for all time to a man for all time."

Paul Robeson Archives, 157 W. 57th St., Suite 403, N.Y., N.Y. 10019 - for records, programs, etc.

Paul Robeson died in a Philadelphia Hospital January 23, 1976, just about two months ago.