NATIVE LAND 1942
SYNOPSIS: By the start of World War II, Paul Robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. Robeson committed his support to Paul Strand and Leo Hurwitz’s political semidocumentary Native Land. With Robeson’s narration and songs, this beautifully shot and edited film exposes violations of Americans’ civil liberties and is a call to action for exploited workers around the country. Scarcely shown since its debut, Native Land represents Robeson’s shift from narrative cinema to the leftist documentaries that would define the final chapter of his controversial film career.
COMMENTARY ABOUT NATIVE LAND
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THE PROUD VALLEY
SYNOPSIS: By the start of World War II, Paul Robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. As David Goliath, in the popular British drama The Proud Valley, Robeson is the quintessential everyman, an American sailor who joins rank-and-file Welsh miners organizing against the powers that be.
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Paul Robeson was a leading figure in trade union movements during his life. He sang, addressed, picketed and supported trade unions throughout the Americas and internationally. It was his firm belief that human rights for African Americans could only be won alongside improvements and in solidarity with all working-class people.
Paul Robeson In the Labor Union Movement: Highlights
1938 Appears in Plant in the Sun, a play by Ben Bengal dealing with sit-down strikes and union organizing in the US, produced by Unity Theater under auspices of British Labour Party
1939. Stars in film, Proud Valley, portraying the life and struggles of Welsh Miners.
1941 Speaks at United Auto Workers rally in downtown Detroit to aid Ford organizing campaign
1942 Devotes time and talent to war effort, performing at War Bond fallies, and recording programs for American and Allied soldiers. Gives recitals, many at no fee, for such groups as the Washington Committee for Aid to China, Russian War Relief, Ford Workers Victory Chorus, Labor Victory Rally at Yankee Stadium, Concert to Aid Negro Soldiers, and more.
1942 May. Addressing Yankee Stadium meeting of 51,000 workers, calls for second front to shorten the war.
1942 September. Speaks and sings for workers at Englewood, CA, plant of North American Aircraft at invitation of Local 887, United Auto Workers -- Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO)
1942 September. At Los Angeles press conference, praises CIO unions for being "in the forefront of the fight to smash barriers of social discrimination in hiring..."
1943 December. As part of Negro delegation, presents plea for removal of ban against Negroes in major leagues, leading to the hiring of Jackie Robinson and others.
1944 May. State, County and Municipal Workers, CIO, establish Paul Robeson Scholarship Fund at New York University to train black students in business management.
1946 March. After singing "Joe Hill" at University of Utah, Salt Lake City -- the city where Joe Hill was executed in 1915 -- announces, "You have just heard my fmal concert for at least two years, and perhaps many more. I'm retiring here and now from concert work. I shall now sing for my trade union and college friends. In other words, only at gatherings where I can sing what I please."
1946. July. Marches on picket line in support of Dodge worker's strike in Windsor, Ontario.
1946 October. Speaks at waterfront strike meeting in San Francisco under auspices of Committee for Maritime Unity, as co-chairman of National Committee to Win the Peace.
1947. January. Testimonial dinner in Robeson's honor sponsored by Local 600, UAW (Ford Motor Company local) in Detroit.
1947 January. Stands on picket line in St. Louis to protest segregation of Negroes in American theater.
1947 June. Gives four concerts in Panama for United Public Workers of America, CIO, who were organizing predominately black Panamanian workers. Ten thousand turn out.
1947 June. Speaks for Local 22, Food and Tobacco Workers, mainly black, in Winston-Salem, NC
1947 September. Speaks at National Maritime Union convention, last to which he is invited, as union leadership under Joseph Curran turns anti-communist and supports Cold War.
1948 march. Transport Worker's Union for first time in ten years withdraws invitation to have Robeson attend its convention despite his honorary lifetime membership.
1948 March. Tours Hawaiian Islands for International Longshoreman's and Warehouseman's Union accompanied by Lawrence Brown and Earl Robinson.
1949 August. Pickets White House with members of CIO United Public Worker's to protest employment discrimination by Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
1949 August 27. Peekskill riots begin when Robeson concert is attacked and Robeson prevented from singing as many audience members are injured by rock throwers. Robeson announces, "I'm going to sing wherever the people want me to sing. My people and I won't be frightened by crosses burning in Peekskill or anywhere else."
1949 September 4. Second concert held successfully in Peekskill but turned into a nightmare as lawlessness breaking out after concert results in injuries to at least 140 persons, some serious, while state police either do nothing to prevent attacks, or, in some instances, encourage mob. Robeson denounces attacks as "fascist."
1949 September. National Maritime Union convention considers motion that his name be stricken from union's honorary membership list; motion withdrawn.
1949 September. All-China Art and Literature Worker's Association of Musicians of Liberated China protest Peekskill attack on Robeson.
1950 June. Speech to meeting of National Labor Conference for Negro Rights, attended by 900 delegates in Chicago, later published as pamphlet entitled "Forge Negro-Labor Unity for Peace and Jobs." i 1—il (1L
1952. Prevented by special order from entering Canada to attend union convention. Union organizes first Peace Arch Concert on US-Canadian border. Over 40,000 attend. Becomes an annual event.
1956 March. Taped message read to "Let Paul Robeson Sing" meeting at Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England.
1957 April. British Actors' Equity Association votes to "make representation in whatever quarters may have influence in allowing him to perform in this country."
1957 December. Invited by Welsh Miners to be honored guest at 1957 Eisteddfod. Appeal to Supreme Court for passport turned down, but is able via trans-Atlantic telephone hookup between New York and Porthcawl, Wales, to sing on schedule.
1958 February. Delivers Negro History Week oration before Local 6 of International Longshoreman's and Warehouseman's Union.
1958 March. American Actors' Equity Association passes resolution to consider assisting Robeson in passport fight.
1958 May. First New York concert in ten years at sold-out Carnegie Hall. At end he tells cheering audience passport battle has been won. Critics acclaim his singing.
1960 July. Sings and speaks to plant worker's in Moscow.
1970 November. Local 1199, Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center, celebrates opening of new 15-story headquarters with cultural program entitled, "A Tribute to Paul Robeson," produced by Moe Foner. Hosts for the evening are Ossie Davis and Mary Travers. Paul Robeson Jr. delivers tribute and Dizzy Gillespie closes show. Two auditoriums are needed because of great response.
1973 April. Salute to Paul Robeson Exhibition opens at Gallery 1199 of Drug and Hospital Worker's Union.
1974 June. Honored by Actors' Equity Association, AFL-CIO, as first recipient of annual award named for him. Message accepting award is last public statement.
