Here I Stand

Antonio G. Pereira  ©  2025   Antonio G. Pereira

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        Here I Stand by Paul Robeson with Lloyd L. Brown https://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Stand-Paul-Robeson/dp/0807064459/ 

        Paul Robeson https://observer1984.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-undiscovered-paul-robeson-artists.html   wrote this book during the dying days of McCarthyism. It was published in 1958 and was immediately blackballed by the mainstream newspapers, that wouldn't review it (The New York Times among others). Interestingly, 4 months after it's publication, Paul Robeson won his court case, got his Passport returned to him, and began travelling and performing again, Internationally. It's easy to understand why 'Here I Stand', upset certain powerful people and made them very uncomfortable and uneasy. Throughout this book, Paul Robeson is unflinching, very articulate, and dead on target; as he writes about the injustices and blatant hypocrisy taking place in the United States during that time period. Quite like what you have today. The fact that Beacon Press is republishing 'Here I Stand', at this moment in history? Well, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Among the many things Robeson writes in this book, is his startling prediction of what turned out to be The March On Washington in 1963. Clearly 7 years later! He also discusses Eisenhower's embarrassment by Louis Armstrong, that forced him to send Federal Troops into Little Rock, Arkansas; so that little Black Children could go to school. This is quite a book! Pure Dynamite! Well worth reading.