New Jersey Designates April 9 Paul Robeson Day in Honor of Rutgers’ Celebrated Alumnus
Paul Robeson, an activist and actor who is one of Rutgers’ most celebrated alumni, will be honored in New Jersey every year on his birthday under legislation recently signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
The bill, sponsored by New Jersey state senators Shirley K. Turner and Andrew Zwicker, designates April 9 of each year as Paul Robeson Day in celebration of the legacy of the gifted debater, scholar, linguist, athlete, actor, singer and author who championed civil rights and social justice.
“Paul Robeson was a towering force of intellect, talent, and courage, a true trailblazer who embodied the very best of New Jersey’s spirit,” Turner said. “Robeson shattered barriers in every field he pursued, from athletics and the arts to activism and academia. His unwavering commitment to justice and equality continues to inspire generations, cementing his legacy as not just one of New Jersey’s greatest sons, but one of history’s most influential figures.”
Rutgers developed plans to mark the day following last week’s bill signing. The Paul Robeson Cultural Center will host a breakfast at 9:30 on Wednesday with Robeson trivia and prizes. Robeson will also be honored with a message on the Marco Battaglia Video Board on the Busch campus and at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.
“With this annual day of celebration, the State of New Jersey shares our pride in and recognition of Paul Robeson’s far-reaching legacy, which took root at Rutgers,” said President Jonathan Holloway.
Robeson, the son of a runaway slave, was born in Princeton in 1898, just two years after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson. Robeson grew up during a period of overt racism, but went on to achieve much success at every level of his life.
He attended Rutgers University on a full scholarship. He was the third African American student to attend the institution. Robeson became valedictorian of the Rutgers Class of 1919 while excelling in four sports for the Scarlet Knights, twice earning football All-America selections in an era when racial segregation prohibited Black players at many colleges and universities.
An inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame, he played four seasons for the Scarlet Knights, helping legendary Coach G. Foster Sanford lead the team to a 22-6-3 record. In addition to four letters in football, he also earned three letters each in basketball and baseball, and two in track. After Rutgers, Robeson played pro football for three seasons, using that income to pay tuition while earning a law degree at Columbia University.
However, racial tensions and discrimination greatly limited his career as a lawyer, and he instead rose to fame as a widely acclaimed actor and singer in the late 1920s and 1930s.
As Robeson’s popularity grew, he broke barriers as one of the first African American men to play significant roles in the predominantly white American theater. But he also became a strong global advocate for African Americans, workers and other people around the world.
His political activism led to his blacklisting and the revocation of his passport, significantly hindering his career and obscuring his accomplishments and role in the history of civil rights.
“He was involved in the most important movements for Democracy in the 20th century,’’ said Edward Ramsamy, who served as chair of the Department of Africana Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick for 10 years and taught a Byrne seminar on Robeson’s legacy with his granddaughter, Susan Robeson.
“He went to Rutgers and had an impact on every continent,’’ Ramsamy said. “He was a phenomenally important individual, and I am glad that New Jersey finally recognized him. I think the state legislature and the governor should be commended for doing this. Paul Robeson made the world a better place for us.’’
Zwicker, one of the bill sponsors in the state senate, said Robeson’s advocacy for human rights and racial equality continues to be an inspiration.
“Paul Robeson Day stands as both a tribute to his extraordinary achievements and a reaffirmation of the values of equality and justice that America must continue to strive towards,’’ Zwicker said.
The importance of Robeson’s legacy is celebrated prominently around the university. Buildings and organizations are named for him including the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University-Camden, the Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers University-Newark and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center at Rutgers-New Brunswick.
In 2019, as part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Robeson’s graduation, Rutgers dedicated a plaza named in his honor that features eight black granite panels detailing the story of his life, which stands in a prominent location next to the Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue campus.
Just last fall, a mural by alumnus Alonzo Adams depicting the many facets of Robeson’s life, was unveiled at SHI Stadium on the wall behind student seating for all to see during home Big Ten football games.
“I hope this annual recognition creates learning opportunities to educate the public about the greatness that is Paul Robeson,’’ said Kendall Hall, past president and co-founder of the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance, who worked on the creation of Paul Robeson Plaza.
“This permanent and significant gesture is a fitting tribute as we celebrate the 127th birthday of one of Rutgers’ most distinguished graduates,’’ Hall said. “The alumni community should be extremely proud of its collective efforts to champion and revitalize the transcendent life and legacy of Paul Robeson here at Rutgers and beyond. May Paul Robeson Day encourage all to live with boldness and conviction.’’
