Laurence Albert - Sietes Canciones Populares Españolas by Manuel de Fall...

I am the first to admit that I do not know much about opera, but I've always admired it as a dramatic musical form. I especially admire those who have the talent to perform it on the world stage. I must also admit that when the performer is of African descent, it makes it especially interesting to me. I recently came across the music of Professor Laurence Albert, and I must say that I was impressed. It caused me to want to learn more about the opera. I see myself getting dressed one evening for a night on the town with opera! I will, of course, be accompanied by my wife who also loves the music. Perhaps I will have the pleasure one day of seeing Mr. Albert perform live. That will be a treat. Meanwhile, I will try to see what is offered here in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. I'm sure that there is much to see and hear. This featured video is just a taste of the professor's mellifluous baritone voice. To find out more about Laurence Albert, click his name. Thank you for sharing your gift to the world, Laurence. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Applause.

2013 Posthumous NFL Draft: Paul Robeson

In the 2013 NFL draft, Morphological Confetti posthumously chooses Rutgers University All-American End (Offensive Guard) Paul Leroy Bustill Robeson as it's No. 1 pick!  Robeson stands at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), Weight: 219 lb.  He is expected to make a huge impact on the 2013-2014 football seasons.  He is known to be a bone crushing blocker and superb, all around football player.  We [would] expect to hear a great deal from this talented - would be - NFL star!  Give it up for Paul “The Crooner” Robeson!

Note:  His talents include acting and he is known to have a brilliant baritone voice and a heart for the people.    He was also honored as Valedictorian of his graduating class of 1919.  I love this guy!

Paul Robeson and the Birth of a Nation

September 16, 1933 – The Emperor Jones, starring Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones is released by United Artists Film Corporation. It is the first time that an African American is starring in a major Hollywood movie role with whites in supporting roles. Paul Robeson continued to entertain audiences for years after The Emperor Jones with his famous baritone voice.  He was also an human rights activist known all over the world.

Ironically, almost two decades before The Emperor Jones, one of United Artist Founders, D.W. Griffith, became famous when he directed and released the controversial film, The Birth of a Nation in 1915. The film depicted African Americans as deceitful, murderous, savages, while he made the Ku Klux Klan the heroes of the film. The film had wide success, but met resistance from the NAACP, who mobilized protest of the film before its release.

Sources:  naacp.org, wikipedia, paulrobesonfoundation.org, and blackfacts.com

Fear and the Robeson Riots of 1949

On August 27, 1949, Paul Robeson's scheduled singing appearance at the Lakeland picnic grounds in Westchester County, NY was disrupted by a riot instigated and provoked by whites angry at Robeson's link to Communist Russia.

It is the same mental malady that has plagued many Americans since the first settlers -- Fear. There was the fear of black people, the fear of Russian Communism, the fear Arabs, the fear of illegal aliens, the fear of... well, you get it. Unfortunately, much of this fear is based on prejudice, assumption, and hearsay.

It's always good for Americans or any nation to protest and take to the streets on issues important to them. However, this civic right and passion should never result in riot or physical harm to others. It should never be, for example, the shouting matches that we are seeing now in Town Hall meetings concerning President Obama's Health Care Reform. It should always be reasonable dialogue that is even toned and productive in its objective and goals. Is this possible? I don't know, but this is something that I will continue to promote and strive for. Peace~

Well, do you want to know more about the Robeson Riots? Click here...

Paul Robeson In Song

Paul Robeson Water Boy
Video sent by paleopale

Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual African American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Spingarn Medal winner, and Lenin Peace Prize laureate.

Paul Robeson Jr

I got an email yesterday informing me that Paul Robeson Jr. will be speaking at the Prince Georges County Memorial Library in Oxon Hill. I immediately switched all of my plans for the evening. I’ve only seen Mr. Robeson speak once and that was almost 6 years ago. The event was hosted in conjunction with Vertigo Books. Mr. Robeson was there to speak and promote his new book, A Black Way Of Seeing: From “Liberty” To Freedom. I was running late and still on the beltway when I thought the program had already started. The event was scheduled for 7pm, but I was delighted to find out upon arrival that it had been delayed because Mr. Robeson was stuck in traffic. I didn’t miss a thing! There was a scattered crowd of about fifty sitting in the small auditorium when I walked in. I saw that there were available seats in the front so I went straight for one. Mr. Robeson arrived a little past 7:30 and apologized to the crowd for his tardiness. He stated that he didn’t have any excuses, but that he could offer an explanation. The crowd smiled and applauded as the host formally introduced him as the night’s speaker.

He started off evening reading from the introduction to his book:
“I am a free Black American. I have a distinct culture. It derives from the traditional culture of African field slaves in the South. I identify with that culture by capitalizing the “B” in Black.”

Mr. Robeson stated that Americans should stop pretending that black people and white people are the same in this country. He said that an example of our differences was evident in the 2000 presidential elections when 92% of black voters were against the Bush campaign while 55% of white voters were pro-Bush. This same pattern continued in the 2004 elections that showed 91% of the black voters still against and around 58% of the white voters. This indicates a very clear divide concerning the thinking and overall outlook between black and white citizens in this country.
Mr. Robeson spoke to the crowd candidly and expressed his delight in addressing a crowd of “just plain folk” as he gave his “humble opinion.” He stated that he no longer enjoyed speaking in the halls of Harvard, Princeton, Yale and other Ivy League institutions. “They wouldn’t want to hear what I’m saying tonight anyway,” he chuckled. He wanted to be among “his people” in community centers and libraries that are located in the black community.

Overall, the lecture was refreshing coming from a man of almost 80. A table was set up for him to sell and sign copies of his book. The small turnout opened the door for small lectures as people were getting their books signed while asking questions. I was one of the last in line and step up to get my book signed. He smiled as I shook his hand and expressed how much I enjoyed the lecture. He began to sign my book. I then informed him that I am a descendant of Ezekiel Robeson. Ezekiel Robeson was William Drew Robeson’s older brother. William Drew Robeson is Paul junior’s grandfather and Paul Robeson’s father.

Brief history:
Ezekiel and William escaped slavery together from the Cross Roads plantation in Martin County, North Carolina, but my great-great-grandfather, Ezekiel, returned to his family on the plantation after the Emancipation Proclamation. William would never return to the Cross Roads of Martin County, North Carolina and the late Paul Robeson would never get to know any of his cousins from that region before his death in 1976.

Paul Robeson Jr. was happy to find out that I was his distant cousin and I was happy that I wasn’t just brushed off. He confirmed things by asking questions about family history that I was able to answer. He smiled and just said, “wow!” Well, It was after 9pm and the library was closing. He signed my book and we exchanged information. I went away satisfied that I mentioned my connection to him. I had failed to mention it the last time that I saw him almost 6 years ago. I was determined this time. It was a very nice and enlightening experience. Peace

Saturday Night At The Lincoln Theater: A Washington Treasure

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a program at the Lincoln Theater. The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute under the directorship of Abdur-Rahim Muhammad put together this wonderful event that was hosted by award winning WUSA 9 News anchor, Tracey Neale. The program was appropriately called, An Unforgettable Evening With Dick Gregory. The father, comedian, author, and civil rights/social activist, Dick Gregory was presented with the Here I Stand award in honor of Paul Robeson. This award is presented annually to an individual who has “committed his or her life to excellence in their chosen field and has demonstrated and equal commitment to activism for progressive causes.” This was my first time attending any event at the Lincoln Theater. I was very impressed with the atmosphere that has been restored to its early 20th Century grandeur. I heard some people in the back of me compare it to the Apollo Theater in Harlem. I’m not sure because I’ve never been to the Apollo in all my visits to New York? The Lincoln Theater is definitely a Washington gem.

Dr. Manning Marable, Columbia University professor of Public Affairs, Political Science, History and African American Studies was the interviewer. Dr. Marable engaged Dick Gregory in questions that took the audience from his childhood home in St. Louis, MO through his activities as a comedian and soldier for social change. Dick Gregory was in rare form as always while the audience clung to his every word. I was in complete awe of this man who was a complete inspiration, living legend and historian. He spoke of his life and the now famous people that he’s met and joined in the struggle with along the way. This list included Malcolm X, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mandela just to name a few. He also spoke of the genius of fellow comedians Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. He felt that few could reach that type of genius in comedy today, but that Washington D.C.’s own Dave Chappelle was gaining ground. The show lasted for 5 hours and included a recital honoring Paul Robeson with DMA Concert Pianist, Dr. Raymond Jackson and Opera singer, Kevin Maynor.

Another treat for that most unforgettable evening was my encounter with poet and social activist, Amiri Baraka. I had a chance to go to the “meet and greet” before the show and Mr. Baraka was standing at the bar with his lovely wife, Amina Baraka. My wife and I approached them and engaged in a little conversation about the upcoming show and a little about politics. (The side picture shows Mr. Baraka and Sis Nomvuyo from South Africa). Afterwards, I shook his hand and expressed my pleasure in meeting him. I found it amusing that he responded with, "ok, I’ll see you around man." He’s a bad brotha! He was also part of the show and performed two riveting poems, which included a tribute to Paul Robeson titled, Revolutionary Legacy, Revolutionary Tradition. I wanted to shout, but I chilled because the crowd was somewhat subdued. It was a long show that started at 7:30 pm and ended close to midnight. I went home happy and enlightend, but tired.

My Enslaved Past

In honor of Black History Month I wanted to post a little note that I left on the Roberson Family guestbook. The Roberson family owned my ancestors who were slaves on the Cross Roads Plantation in Martin County, North Carolina. This fact is known because my family never left that region after slavery and still reside there today. As a matter of fact, my grandmother was raised on the same plantation her grandfather worked as a slave. Her great uncle is the late Rev., William Drew Robeson, who is the father of actor, activist, and singer, the late Paul Robeson. This is a part of my history that I continue to study and I am finding out more and more as time goes on. I hope that you will find this as interesting as I did. I wasn't angry at them for their part in history. I just wanted them to know the names of those people who were affected/infected by their part in history.The note:Stephen Bess
Tuesday, 12/23/03, 8:07 AM

Happy holidays!! I am a descendant of Ezekiel Roberson who was a slave on the Cross Roads plantation. I feel that your website is really important because it gives me a sense of connection to my ancestors in Martin County, NC. I am fortunate because there are many African Americans in this country who have no idea what land their ancestors worked and tilled. My grandmother, Eunice Roberson Best grew up in Robersonville and she taught me all that I know about that area and our family. She joined our ancestors in April of 1999. Her memory will live on forever along with the memory of those who preceded her.

From:
Washington, D.C.
P.S. By the way, a member of the Roberson family did contact me and thanked me for leaving that note. He is a business man in the Raleigh Durham area. He also encouraged me to continue my research. I thanked him.

click the post title for a link to the Roberson Family website