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great man honoured

the historyman | 11.10.2002 11:55

the great singer/anti-fascist, anti-colonial/human rughts campaigner has been honoured with a blue plaque.

In black history month, should be more than a plaque, lest we forget.

some links

 http://www.rutgers.edu/robeson/main.html
 http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/njh/PaulRobeson/
 http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/robeson/links.html

Paul Robeson honoured

Friday October 11, 2002
The Guardian

Singer, actor and black activist Paul Robeson was honoured yesterday with an English Heritage blue plaque, unveiled by jazz singer Cleo Laine at Robeson's former home in Hampstead, north London.
Dame Cleo said: "Paul Robeson's name should be lauded in America and the world, as is Dr Martin Luther King's. If he had renounced his political beliefs during the turbulent time he lived in the USA, there would now be a public holiday in his name.

"As he once said (and I believe to be true), 'I have been part of the protest movement my whole life.' And he sang like an angel too."

Robeson's son, Paul Junior, attended the ceremony, saying the plaque recorded a significant period of his father's artistic and political growth in London. And, he added: "It will remind us all of the deep mutual affection between my father and the peoples of the UK."

Robeson's powerful, warm bass voice is perhaps best known for Ol' Man River in Showboat. Others will remember a heroic figure in the struggle against fascism, colonialism and racism.

· Press Association

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