CHANNEL gave viewers late-night bonus •on Tuesday. Scrapping their weekly bably sidney Poitier's Tribute reasons, they to Paul Robeson.
Robeson had been an outstanding scholar, being Law Scholar of the Year, was a lot class aunielt had magnificen baritone voice. Normal! that would have assured him of a glittering future in America.
But there were snags. Robeson was black and to was a member of the US Communist Party. All. his life he suffered the of a white society.
Poitier shows through Robeson's famous song "Ole Man River' Robeson's con sciousness developed. When he first sang it in the musical Show Boat, he.did so in the traditionai Uncle Tom idiom, complete with the word 'niggers'.
The following year he replacco tols wit tae mor acceptable (only just), 'darkies'. But this was on In the beginnin he Through the years became more political, the words the song changed significantly.
'I'm tired of living and of dying' became 'we must keep fighting until we're dying Robeson first used this version standing Man's Land during the Spanish Civil War, bringing the fighting to a stand-still as both sides listened to li superb voice.
'You get a little drea and you go to jail' becau 'you show a little grit sad you go to jail.' During th McCarthy period. Robeson 'DOR outstau achievements scholar shaped editiom n disappeared records Forbidden to trave abroad,. he stood on the American-Canadian border sang, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians coming to hear him. His courage never deserted him.
The last time he sang Ole River Was H Sydney, he knew he was a uying man. Now the word: were: must go fighting until I'm dying'. understand the nature of capitalist society and the repressive and divisive role of the capitalist state •He also came to iden tify as gay, developing not only a series of deep per sonal relationships with other achieving a high level of 'cons' but also understanding of sexual oppression. Most extraor dinarily, he managed organise series political discussion groups anu a string or pontica ana set up both a Liberation Front and a Maoist organisation!
It was this political action, and especially his uncompromising defence of the Irish national liberation struggle, which led to the rejection of three ap The full backing of the full backing of medical psychiatric staff at Broadmoor disturbins book. It deals with thing most of us would prefer to Ignore That is why it should be widely read Notes from a waitingroom Alan Reeve Heretic Books, £3.50