GINA BELAFONTE
Special Guest Speaker
Saturday night, April 15, 2023
Closing Gala
Social justice activist
CEO, Sanfoka.org
(daughter of Harry Belafonte)
HARRY BELAFONTE
Honorary Chair
(Joining us in spirit)
125th Paul Robeson Birthday Celebration
Activist, friend of Paul Robeson
Founder of Sankofa.org
DANNY GLOVER
Honorary Co-Chair
(Joining us in spirit)
125th Paul Robeson Birthday Celebration
Actor, political activist
Co-Founder, The Robey Theatre Company, Los Angeles
Hereβs your chance to support one of the most important figures of the 20th century in America and the work that is carried on in his name at the Paul Robeson House & Museum. Paul Leroy Robeson believed in America and the democracy and freedom it espoused for all of its citizens.
Weβre planning an exciting celebration with local, national and international guests to honor Robeson. Itβs something you donβt want to miss out on and will truly want to support.
Purchase tickets for each of our amazing events - both live and virtual - during the celebration. See details below on this page for each event.
Buy tickets on Eventbrite for events on April 8, April 9 and April 14, 2023.
Buy tickets at the Live Arts/Annenberg Center Box Office for the premier Closing Gala, Saturday night, April 15, 2023.
Participate in our whimsical fundraising campaign. Our goal is $5,000. You can donate the equivalence of:
125 nickels ($6.25)
125 dimes ($12.50)
125 quarters ($31.25)
125 dollars ($125)
Other - Donate what you wish
This year, the Paul Robeson House & Museum is celebrating the 125th birthday of Paul Leroy Robeson. Each weekday during Black History Month, we will offer a series of vignettes from Robesonβs life as a prelude to his birthday celebration from April 8-15, 2023. The series will remind the country and the world of Robesonβs contributions, and the price he paid for speaking out against racism and oppression. Robeson was born on April 9, 1898.
GINA BELAFONTE
Special Guest Speaker
Social justice activist
CEO, Sanfoka.org
(daughter of Harry Belafonte)
Saturday night, April 15, 2023, Closing Gala
Penn Live Arts/Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts University of Pennsylvania
Just as her father, Gina is passionate about arts and activism:
"After we finished (the documentary) 'Sing Your Song,' I knew then as long as my dad had an idea, I would do whatever I could to help bring those ideas to fruition, continue the best of my eldersβ traditions, and preserve our familyβs legacy."
This amazing program will also feature the Monumental Baptist Church Choir, Bert Harris and the Afro Jazz Trio, and two choirs from Wales, the Cwmbach and Pendyrus Male Choirs. The Welsh people had a long and beloved history with Paul Robeson, who supported the country's coal miners.
FREDRIKA NEWTON
Guest Panelist
President & Co-Founder
Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
Former Black Panther Party member
(widow of Panther Co-Founder Huey P. Newton)
Featuring violinist Jack Drummond,
and Bert Harris & the Afro Jazz Trio
with vocalist Gerri Oliver
SOLOMON JONES
Guest Panelist
Author
Columnist, Philadelphia Daily News
Morning host, WURD Radio
Blogger & frequent on-air commentator for WHYY
MICHAEL AFRICA JR.
Guest Panelist
Activist, writer, podcaster, performer
Second-generation member of MOVE, the organization of his parents.
Archivist for Move Archival Project
Street-Naming Ceremony
In front of Paul Robeson House & Museum
Friday morning, April 14, 2023
Our plan is to have a portion of Walnut Street from 49th to 50th Streets designated "Paul L. Robeson Way." A sign would be placed at the corner of 50th & Walnut Streets in front of the Paul Robeson House & Museum. This is a free community event.
Unveiling of Stained Glass Door
At Paul Robeson House & Museum
Friday morning, April 14, 2023
We will present a stained-glass-door image of Paul Robeson created by Los Angeles artist Ramsess, who is an avid admirer of this great man. This is a free community event.
Ramsess was one of two illustrators of the book "Paul Robeson for Beginners," published in 2013. He has created stained-glass artworks and quilts with images of Robeson. Ramsess has donated a quilt to the Paul Robeson House & Museum.
ROUND-TRIP BUS EXCURSION FROM PHILADELPHIA TO PRINCETON, NJ - Birthplace of Paul Robeson
Activities organized by the Paul Robeson House of Princeton:
Wreath-laying and proclamation, Arts Council of Princeton.
Walking tour of the historic Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood where Robeson was born.
Program at Princeton Public Library, with speaker Dr. Jessica J. Williams, Black feminist artist and educator. Tour of exhibit in library's Princeton Room. (Photo from princetonnj.gov.)
Lunch is included.
ROUND-TRIP BUS EXCURSION TO MOTHER A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, NY
Easter-morning services at the Harlem church where the Robeson family worshiped for more than 50 years. Paul Robeson's brother, Rev. Benjamin (Ben) Robeson, was a pastor at the church, and Robeson often sang there.
Mother A.M.E. Zion is the oldest African American church in New York State. It was also known as the βFreedom Churchβ because of its work in the abolitionist movement. Sojourner Truth was one of its members.
Brunch is included, on Columbia University campus. Robeson graduated from Columbia Law School in 1923.
The Walnut Hill Community Association is celebrating Paul Robesonβs 125th Birthday with a Black History Month Essay Contest on Paul Robeson for students in grades three to eight in its partner schools. Winners from Henry C. Lea and Alain Locke Schools in Philadelphia will be chosen for monetary awards. This West Philadelphia association is a major supporter and collaborator with the Paul Robeson House & Museum.
A Contest Awards Ceremony will be held April 11, 2023, as part of the celebration. Winners will read their essays at the Robeson House, 4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.
