Susan Robeson
Born1953
OccupationAuthor, producer
Notable worksThe Whole World In His Hands
RelativesPaul Robeson (grandfather),
Paul Robeson Jr. (father),
Marilyn Paula Greenberg (mother)

Susan Robeson is an American author, producer and the granddaughter of Paul Robeson.

Early life

Robeson was a part of a seventh-grade class that integrated an all-white school for the gifted.

Robeson studied at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio as well as at New York University. Classes in communications, history and culture were primary areas of focus.[1]

Career

Robeson was inspired to enter the documentary journalism field by her grandfather's misrepresentation by the media and the lack of positive black character roles in film.[2]

Robeson's first work was to co-direct Teach Our Children, for Third World Newsreel. The film focuses on the 1971 prison rebellion at Attica in upstate New York.[3][4][5]

Robeson's book The Whole World In His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson explores many of her grandfather's accomplishments from his stage performances, to private moments and his political activist period. The book's intent is to allow Robeson to posthumously speak for himself and correct media misrepresentations.[5] The biography consists of essays written by Susan, reflections from Paul Robeson himself, such as his opinion of his film Sanders of the River,[6] and photographs from the family's library of 50,000 materials.[2] Photos from the 1949 Peekskill riots capture the beating of Eugene Bullard by two policemen, a state trooper and a concert-goer. All of which went unprosecuted.[7] The New York book party included invitations featuring Lena Horne and performances by Odetta and Pete Seeger.[8]

In the 1980s, New York's WABC-TV had a black public affairs program Like It Is, on which Robeson worked as an associate producer.[9] In 1982 the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award recognized her for her contribution to WABC-TV's "Essay on Drugs."

In the 1990s, Robeson was the executive producer for community affairs at Twin Cities Public Television.[5]

As an educator, she has taught on Paul Robeson and documentary film at Macalester College, Carleton College and Colorado College.[10]

Robeson published a children's book, Grandpa Stops a War about his peacemaking efforts on the front lines of the Spanish Civil War.[11][12]

Legacy

Robeson remains active in promoting her grandfather's image and legacy and is frequently a speaker at events honoring him. In celebration of his 100th birthday, Somerville Middle School invited Robeson as the featured speaker to honor her late grandfather as the winners of the Paul Robeson Essay Contest were awarded.[13]

Robeson has lectured often on her grandfather's opinions and accomplishments and attended ceremonies in his honor.[10][14] She is the chair of the Paul Robeson Foundation.[15]

At the Second Annual Paul Robeson Lecture Series, a part of Paul Robeson's alma mater Rutgers University's "America Converges Here" campaign, Susan along with Harry Belafonte shared the lessons of Paul Robeson.[16][17]

Family

Robeson has one son and is the daughter of author Paul Robeson Jr. and Marilyn Paula Greenberg, who were married in New York City in 1949 with a mob outside protesting their interracial union. She is the granddaughter of singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson Sr. and anthropologist and author Eslanda Goode Robeson.[16][1][18] Her great-grandfather William Drew Robeson I was an escaped slave who became a minister and married a Quaker schoolteacher, Maria Louisa Bustill, making Robeson a descendant of the Bustill family.

Publications

  • The Whole World In His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson. Citadel Press, 1981[7]
  • Grandpa Stops a War: A Paul Robeson story, Penguin Random House, 2019[12]

References

  1. 1 2 Spratling, Cassandra (Jan 22, 1982). "Settling the score on Paul Robeson: A granddaughter's book settles the score". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Trescott, Jacqueline (Feb 14, 1982). "Pictorial biography tells Robeson legacy". News-Journal. pp. 1-D, 7-D. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Teach Our Children - Available from TWN". www.twn.org. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  4. ↑ Trescott, Jacqueline (Feb 22, 1982). "Granddaughter pictures Robeson". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 Duckworth, Erika N. (Jun 12, 1992). "KTCA's Robeson carrying on in her grandfather's footsteps". Star Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Robeson, Susan (1981). The Whole World In His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson (1st ed.). Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0806507545.
  7. 1 2 Robeson, Susan (1981). "Chapter 5, The Politics of Persecution". The Whole World In His Hands: A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson (1st ed.). Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press. pp. 181–183. ISBN 978-0806507545.
  8. ↑ Trescott, Jacqueline (Feb 27, 1982). "Paul Robeson: Bitterness bespeaks regret and he didn't have any". The Journal Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Carrington, Karlynn (Dec 12, 1982). "Memories of a Big Voice Silenced by Small Minds". Hartford Courant. p. 126. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 Chan, Kali (2014-11-12). "Susan Robeson, Granddaughter of Artist and Activist Paul Robeson, to Speak at Adelphi". Garden City, NY Patch. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  11. ↑ Carino, Jerry (Feb 24, 2019). "Robeson's legacy more than ball". Asbury Park Press. pp. 1B, 2B. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Robeson, Susan (2019). Grandpa Stops a War: A Paul Robeson story (Illustrated ed.). Triangle Square Press. ISBN 978-1609808822.
  13. ↑ Nesterak, Jessica Anne (Apr 10, 1998). "Robeson's legacy: Think for yourself". The Courier-News. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Singer Robeson's granddaughter recalls fight against racism". BBC News. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  15. ↑ Rowe, Marcia (Jan 31, 2012). "Film-maker continues the legacy of civil rights activist". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  16. 1 2 Makin, Cheryl (Apr 7, 2017). "Robeson lectures to feature Belafonte". The Courier-News. pp. 1A, 9A. Retrieved 2023-12-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Makin, Cheryl. "Susan Robeson, Harry Belafonte inspire at Paul Robeson lecture". Courier News. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  18. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (Apr 27, 2014). "Paul Robeson Jr., Activist and Author, Dies at 86". New York Times.
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