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Activists & artists honor Robeson

Published Apr 14, 2005 10:48 PM

The Community Aware ness Series is entering its 28th year as an important institution that found a permanent home at the Miller Branch Library in Jersey City’s predominantly Black community. The series’ organizers, who had to fight long and hard to get any kind of city funding, offer progressive forums on current issues of an international, national and local nature, free to the public. A major theme of CAS has been “Supporting Art, Culture and Education.”


Paul Robeson used his powerful voice
in songs of social activism, defying
the McCarthy witchhunt.

The CAS presented a moving and exhilarating cultural tribute to the late, great African American singer, actor and social activist Paul Robeson on April 9—the 107th anniversary of his birthday. His career was virtually destroyed in the U.S. by the vicious, McCarthyite witch hunt in the 1950s. Robeson was openly sympathetic towards socialism and communism and performed throughout Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and other parts of the world. His unprecedented international popularity as a Black performer at that time made him a major target of the U.S. capitalist government. He died in 1976.

Daoud-David Williams and Kwame Agyeman, long-time CAS representatives, spoke about the contributions made by Robeson to the struggle against capitalism, imperialism and racism.

Veteran musicians Joe Lee Wilson, Charles Davis, Bruce Cox, Calvin Hill and Richard Clemmons electrified the audience with their jazz, blues and ballad renditions.

— Monica Moorehead