US Postage Stamp Honoring Paul Robeson To Be Unveiled at Rutgers-Newark on Feb. 9

January 22, 2004

Contact: Carla Capizzi, 973 353 5262; capizzi@rutgers.edu

(NEWARK) – A local ceremony to unveil a United States Postal Service stamp honoring Rutgers’ most famous graduate will be held Feb. 9 on the Newark campus of Rutgers.

The Paul Robeson Stamp Unveiling Second Day Ceremony will be held on Monday, Feb. 9, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Paul Robeson Campus Center’s Multipurpose Room, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The federal postage stamp honors Robeson's life, legacy and contributions to the nation as a political activist, actor and singer. His son, Paul Robeson Jr., will give the keynote address. Dignitaries from the community as well as local and state governments are expected to participate in the ceremonies. The event is open to the public; there is no charge.

Paul L. Robeson (1898 – 1976) was the grandson of slaves and the son of a minister who escaped slavery. He came to Rutgers in 1915 on a four-year scholarship, graduating in 1919 after a brilliant academic and athletic career. Robeson, the third Black student at Rutgers, was born in Princeton and educated in Somerville. The first Black football player at Rutgers, Robeson twice attained All-American status. He also excelled in many other sports, collecting thirteen varsity letters. His academic career was highlighted by his election to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and culminated in his being honored as class valedictorian. In 1923 he earned a law degree from Columbia. What followed was a brilliant career as a political activist, as well as an actor and concert singer. His performing career spanned nearly four decades, from his concert debut in 1925 to such stage successes as Show Boat, Porgy and Bess, and Othello, the last of which was hailed by some critics as the play’s greatest interpretation. Robeson's world travels included the former Soviet Union, Asia, and Europe, and he spoke many languages; among them Chinese, Russian, Gaelic, and Spanish. Wherever he traveled, Robeson championed the cause of the common person.

Robeson was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by Rutgers in 1932, and on April 9, 1973, on his 75th birthday, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University.

Robeson spent the last years of his life at his sister’s home in Philadelphia. He died on January 23rd, 1976.