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Paul Robeson: Influencing Cultural Literacy By: Dustin Collins

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Dustin Collins Dr. Kurek Comp I Spring 2011 (ENGL1110:901) May 1, 2011 Paul Robeson: Influencing Cultural Literacy Paul Robeson is an extremely important American figure whom is discussed very little in the conversation of cultural literacy and United States history. He was a man ahead of his time and knew the importance of education and effectively communicating with his audience. Robeson's ability to deliver and communicate on such a literate level should be used as a benchmark for teaching the children of today and tomorrow. Children need to understand how Paul Robeson made an impact on U.S. culture and why it is important to be literate. He also stands to be a role model, not just for African-Americans, but for the entire world. The New Cultural Dictionary defines Paul Robeson as: A twentieth-century African-American actor and singer, best known for his roles in Porgy and Bess and in the movie version of Show Boat, in which he sang Ol' Man River. Robeson was politically controversial because he compared the treatment of black people in the United States unfavorably with their treatment in the Soviet Union. He live outside the United States for many years. (pg. 192). This definition does no justice to Paul Robeson. It focuses more on the artist

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aspects of his life, not his social, economical, and political contributions. Robeson used his art as a transmitter to explain his policies to the American public in a way that they could understand. Paul Robeson is an African-American and the son of slave. He himself had to experience bigotry and racial discrimination. Robeson was a man of many talents. He was a top-notch athlete who played collegiate football at Rutgers University. He is more known for singing and acting, such as Othello and his famous song Ol Man River. However, he is less known as being an influential political activist for civil rights. This could be in part because he did express favorable views to the Soviet Union and communism during the period of the Cold War. Robeson says, In Russia I felt for the first time like a full human being. No color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington. It was the first time I felt like a human being. The children of today and tomorrow absolutely must be introduced to Paul Robeson. Not by the time they reach college because in all reality, some decide not to further their education once they graduate high school. Paul Robeson is a complex individual who needs to be thoroughly analyzed. Future Americans need to know how to communicate with each other and Paul Robeson did so beautifully through his artistic talent as he singer. He understood his audience and was able to deliver the message in which all knew the meaning and context clearly. This is what our future generations should be taught about Paul Robeson.

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This is exactly what Hirsch is trying to state in Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. The decline in cultural literacy spawns from a lack of of shared information, not knowledge. Americans have good language skills and are able to complete their work, but we lack cultural literacy, meaning that we can not communicate efficiently. Children should also know the influence of Paul Robeson on American culture. Culture is constructive, meaning that it grabs and borrows from different ethnicities and is constantly growing. Robeson made historical contributions to this culture through his various methods. Through his art as a singer and actor, he was able to leave behind a language of sorts that everyone could connect to and understand. Also, he contributed to film and music culture of the United States. He was an extreme civil rights activist and influenced the civil rights movement heavily. Lastly, Paul Robeson should be viewed as a role-model for anyone trying to make something of themselves. He lived in time of racial segregation and faced many obsticles in his life. Through his ability of being culturally literate he was able to overcome these obstacles. Hirch states, Like everything that helps to spread literate language and culture, a nation's dictionaries, including those of cultural literacy, have helped to overcome class distinctions and barriers to opportunity. Historically, they have had a liberalizing and democratic effect.(Hirsch pg 91). Education is power in human society. Without it, future generations would not receive the adequate knowledge for survival. Written language and speech is the only way for humans

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to transmit culture. These national dictionaries allow for the gathering of knowledge and the learning from past experiences. There is a reason why in ancient civilizations that only the rich and powerful were properly educated. It is because they wanted to keep the poor from liberating themselves. Robeson understood this and used his knowledge to help shape American culture in the twentieth-century. When dealing with cultural literacy, a foundation must be laid in order to build a basis for language and effective communication. The very simplest form of this foundation are groupings are objects and symbols we use to relate to other objects in our surroundings. Researchers call this phenomenon prototypes and how these are related are called schema. Schema is used to build the language upon it and is based on the collective knowledge of the individual. The more knowledge (schema) one has, the greater the capacity for being culturally literate.
People tend to do better if they have vast array of experiences and skills. They are able to recall this information more readily and quickly than that of a novice. This directly relates to that of childhood education. Natural selection can not be used to successfully treat the illiteracy that exists in most cultures today. These children need to have access to the knowledge and skills so that they can form experiences and schemas, thus transforming the novice into the expert. Robeson explains it best

in his valedictorian speech when he graduated Rutgers University: We of the younger generation must feel a sacred call to that which lies before us. I go out to do my little part in helping my untutored

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brother. We of this less-favored race realize that our future lies chiefly in our own hands. On ourselves alone will depend the preservation of our liberties and the transmission of them in their integrity to those who will come after us. And we are struggling on, attempting to show that knowledge can be obtained under difficulties; that poverty may give place to affluence; that obscurity is not an absolute bar to distinction; and that a way is open to welfare and happiness to all who will follow the way with resolution and wisdom... The word transmission is important. This is what being culturally literate means, to effectively transmit information between each other. Robeson also expresses the importance of our future generations having the knowledge base to effectively communicate with each other. Paul Robeson is more than just a singer, an actor, or a civil rights activist. He is an American cultural identity. He has influenced the Americanconstructional culture by leaving us great music, movies and speeches that are purely original to the United States. Robeson knew the importance of knowledge and effectively communicating with the audience. He should be the standard that our future generations should be taught. This is the proper definition of Paul Robeson that should be displayed in the The New Cultural Dictionary.

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Works cited
Biography. paulrobesonfoundation.org, Paul Robeson Foundation. n.d. Web. 21 April. 2011. <http://www.paulrobesonfoundation.org/biography.html >

Boyle, Sheila, and Bunie, Andrew. Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement. Sheridon Books, 2001. Web. Dean, Philip. Paul Robeson. New York. Dramatist Play Services, 1997. Web. Dorison, Joseph, and Pencak, William. eds. Paul Robeson: Essays on his life and Legacy. McFarland, 2002. Web. Ehrilch, Scott. Paul Robeson. New York. Chelsea House, 1988. Print. Foner, Philip. eds. Paul Robeson Speaks. New York. Citadel, 1978. Web. Ford, Carin. Paul Robeson: I want to make freedom ring. African-American biography library, 2008. Print. Hirsch, E.D. Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. New York. Random House, 1987. Print. ---.The New Cultural Dictionary. New York. Houghton Muffin, 2002. Print. Nollen, Scott. Paul Robeson: Film Pioneer. McFarland, 2010. Print. Price, Clement. Paul Robeson: A Modern Man. Criterion: Current. 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 1 May 2011. < http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/468-paul- robeson- amodern-man> Robeson, Paul. Here I Stand. Massachusetts. Beacon Press, 1958. Print.