LaborArts

Robeson’s alliance with the NMU rounded to a close with the 1947 convention in New York City. Left-wing influence in the NMU went into steep decline between 1947 and 1950. Robeson’s continued support of left political campaigns, of the Soviet Union, and particularly his active involvement in the independent presidential campaign of Henry Wallace in 1948, kept him from being invited to later conventions of the NMU. Robeson began to be shunned by other unions as well. The tolerant and hopeful multi-racial culture of labor solidarity that grew during the 1930s—1940s gave way to anti-Communist and anti-left campaigns within and beyond the labor movement.

There is an understated poignancy in Robeson’s comments to the 1947 NMU convention, but there is determination as well. And passionate advice—fight adversity with everything you’ve got:

…I have been proud time and time again for the stand the NMU has taken… I know… you will find a way to fight these forces that are attempting to change our democratic America… when I played a lot of football… I learned… when a tackle is coming at you… don’t fall back and take it… charge in and [biff! biff! biff! Robeson smacking his fist into his palm] —nothing can happen to you but good.

Paul Robeson portrait, undated. ~ New York Public Library Picture Collection.