Paul Robeson: Culture

Paul Robeson was American singer and actor. Explore interesting quotes on culture.

Paul Robeson: 44 quotes25 likes

“The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative. The history of the capitalist era is characterized by the degradation of my people: despoiled of their lands, their true culture destroyed… denied equal protection of the law, and deprived their rightful place in the respect of their fellows.”

As quoted in Paul Robeson, The Whole World in His Hands (1981) by Susan Robeson, p. 60

“If the American Negro is to have a culture of his own he will have to leave America to get it.”

As quoted in "Paul Robeson and Negro Music" in The New York Times (5 April 1931)

“For the first time since I began acting, I feel that I've found my place in the world, that there's something out of my own culture which i can express and perhaps help others preserve.. i have found out now that the African natives had a definite culture a long way beyond the culture of the Stone age…an integrated thing, which is still unspoiled by western influences…I think the Americans will be amazed to find how many of the modern dance steps are relics of African heritage.”

As quoted in Paul Robeson : The Whole World in His Hands (1981) by Susan Robeson, p. 72