Paul Leroy Robeson (; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American singer and actor who became involved with the
Civil Rights Movement. At
Rutgers College, he was an outstanding
football player, then had an international career in singing, with a distinctive, powerful, deep bass voice, as well as acting in theater and movies. He became politically involved in response to the
Spanish Civil War,
fascism, and social injustices. His advocacy of
anti-imperialism, affiliation with
communism, and criticism of the United States government caused him to be
blacklisted during
the McCarthy era. Ill health forced him into retirement from his career.