The Sanctity of Culture

Across the globe, Paul truly believed in the importance of the common man and of the preservation of folk culture. He continually reached out to those peoples who in some way connected with his own situation as an African-American. In the Chinese, he saw an ideology concerned with the development of the individual from which Blacks should learn; in the Russians, he saw a comparable serfdom that created a similar musical and mystical popular culture. Understanding the often overlooked contributions and wisdom of the people, Paul championed the downtrodden. He was a voice for the voiceless of the earth.

“The battlefront is everywhere. There is no sheltered rear. The artist elects to fight for freedom or slavery.”

The following sections will not only chronicle the steps that Robeson made in support of civil rights within the United States, but also how he connected with, supported and found sanctuary in other cultures across the globe.

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