Who was Paul Robeson?
Cerritos College students asked themselves that very question as they entered the Burnight Theatre last Tuesday.
They emerged knowing the life story of one man and the struggle of an entire race of people.
In a celebration of Black history month Stogie Amir Kenyatta, a classically trained actor, brought the life story of African American trial blazer to Robeson to life as he stared in the one man play entitled “The Life and Times of Paul Robeson.”
Kenyatta skillfully interlaced comedy, poetry, and music with an intriguing way of story telling to tell the story of one of the first black historical figures in the United States.
Robeson born to slaves overcame racism, discrimination and personal tragedy to become an acclaimed scholar, athlete, actor, and “citizen of the world.”
Following his fathers advice to take a stand and persevere, Robeson became the first black lawyer hired to a national law firm, the third black student admitted to Rutgers Univesity and the first black man to portray Shakesphere’s Othello in a broadway play.
A speaker of 20 languages and a traveler of the world, Robeson used his popularity to speak out againt racism, theVitenamn war the liberation of Africa.
Although Kenyatta’s potryal depicted the story of one man, the struggle of a people was felt through out the play.
Despite Robeson’s accomplishments, he was surrounded by racisim
Theatres that allowed him to perform to sell out crowds one night wouldn’t even let him through the front door the next, and although he was a higly paid lawyer his white secretary refused to take dictation from him.
Irene Rojas, a Cerritos College student who attended the play was amazed at the accomplishments Robeson made despite the racist mind set of Robeson’s time.
“Black people were so discrimanted against back then. It’s was interesting to see Robeson accomplished so much.”
Kenyatta wanted to inspire the audience with his performance.
“I want people to learn from this play. I want them to follow Robeson’s example and know that there is absolutely nothing that they can’t accomplish.”
