The Paris Peace Conference

With tensions on both sides of the cold War increasing, the Congress of the World Partisans of Peace organized a last ditch attempt to secure a peaceful resolution in the . The Chinese had recently captured Nanking and were actively advancing towards Shanghai, threatening other world powers with the rise of a dominant communist nation. In the midst of this conflict, over two thousand international delegates from fifty nations gathered in Paris in 1949 for the World Peace Congress.

The US state department condemned the gathering in advance describing it as, “a part of the current Cominform effort to make people think…that all of the Western powers are governed by warmongers.” It was within this abrasive atmosphere that Robeson, celebrated as one of the more prominent speakers, addressed the gathering. Robeson sang to the people followed by several brief remarks. Robeson mentioned within his speech that he believed the wealth of America had have been built upon the backs of Blacks and immigrants from Europe saying, "We are resolved to share it [The US] equally among our children. And we shall not put up with any hysterical raving that urges us to make war on anyone. Our fight for peace is strong. We shall not make war on anyone. We shall not make war on the Soviet Union."

These words, demanding that Blacks and minority laborers not fight foreign wars to protect a nation which hardly supports their domestic livelihood, would unexpectedly divide Robeson’s support indefinitely, both politcally and artistically. Coupled with slanderous reports and inaccurate quotes, a hysterical outcry erupted. US Government agencies began to scramble to find a way to revoke Robeson’s citizenship, while well connected Black Americans quickly turned face.

This fateful and certainly unpredictable turn of events, diminsished Robeson’s support within his own country. The unnerving scramble of the nation to cast out one of its reprobate sons left Paul with little other choice but to explore internationally, establishing close relationships with several European and Asian countries.