The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-02-06
African Governors Children Escape kazis
Artists Who
HaueBecone
Truly Great
By T. JOHN WOOD

Greatness. according 20 Webster
Is "the state or quality OF being
great; magnitude; dignity. emf
hence, distinguished rank or posi-.
ton" Glancing over the long lis,
OF those who have made outstand-
ing contributions to the remark
able history OF tie Negro race.
those whose deeds will live CEN
turtles after they have passed on,
one cannot but conclude that Paul
Robson is one Of the greatest men
the Negro race has ever produced.
He ranks with-the late lsmented
DR.. George Washington Carver for
the story OF Robeson's life is filled
with little incidents" proving tina,
at an early age he had reached
that state or quality OF being
great"-incidents which decided rhe
course he was to follow in later
years.
One Of these stories was told TO
me as stood gazing admiringly
at a picture OF Robson in the
gymnasium Of Rutgers college dur
ing my short sojourn in New Bruins
wick, N. J. The story was retold
fer the hundredth time by one OF
Robeson's admirers, Negro jani-
tor who had not only followed the
great mans career at Rutgers. but
had taken the time to delve into
his early life. and undertaking
which resulted in an interesting
accumulation OF accounts OF little"
things which would some day make
paul Robson famous.
TIE story is simple. but Is all
the more interesting by virtue OF
that simplicity for which Paul
Robson is famous. II was while
Robson was at the height OF his
athletic career at Rutgers and had
made practically every play that
won a particularly importan, game
for his team. So remarkable had
been his playing that day that fell
low members OK the team wanted
10 place in the gym a glass case
filled witE dirt that Robeson's
spikes had torn from rhe football
field. Robson objected. and when
his teammates. and the coach. a.
tempted to oyerrule his objections
he Silenced the cheering crowd
with these words: There Is no
man on any team who can win
without the help Of his teammates.
No matter what kind OF game you
are playing. 1t takes . team 10 win,
and IL there are any honors due.
they should 90 to the team and no,
10 any one individual
The picture I was admiring n I
listened to this story was taken
the very day Robson refused to
accept credit for winning that I'M
portant game. and the caption
above II reads: One of the all
time greats" In later years. the
janiior went on. candidates for the
football squad at Rutgers were
usually gIxen-a@.Paul- Robson.
lecture under that picture, and the
coach would inevitably end his talk
by saying If you want 10 be
good football player. jus, try 10 be
HALF the man Paul Robson was
Said the jsnitor. as he walked
away. Paul Robson was a grea;
football player; he Is a grea, singer
and a grea. man"
From Rutgers. Robson went on
TO achieve even greater fame as
an artist, not just because he was
great singer. but because even
while az the height OF his artistic
career he never lost touch with
The common people. In this he is
ike many OF the great artists. with
the possible exception OF few
Negroes. who have reached the top
ot tie ladder OF success but never
held out a helping hand 10 the
race. Poland's lgnace
paderewski will be remembered as
4 greater artist than Russia's Sersei
Rachmaninoft, because Paderewski
lsed his talents AND political con-
1ectons 10 improve the lot OF his
people. Rachmaninoff. on the other
hand, let a revolution shacter his
scheme of-iite and took refuge on
he concert stage. There is no
record Of tts efforts TO improve the
under which his fellow
lived because no such
Efforts were ever made.
Samuel Coleridge- Taylor risked |
he personal security OF a teaching |
oo at Croydon Conservatory in |
when he married a white |
woman in spite OF advice ana |
threats from his English benefac.
ors: coming TO America some years
alter he dehed the jbes Of the
advocates OF freedom and democ.
'acy. and until his death he cri-
icized tie hypocrisy OF both Amer
ca and England Our Negro his
orian would do well 10 teach our
that Taylor attained great
less NOT as a musician but as a
nan who believed in equality OF
III peoples.
Marian Anderson has been called I
he greatest singer OF an era. and
Ilthough she has for years been the
dol OF her people. she attained true
greatness when she refused to sing
It a Jim Crow affair for the pre-.
udiced Daughters OF tie American
revolution: and when she sang on
he steps OF the nations capitol
n defiance TO the OAR. she became
new Marian Anderson: she was
10 longer just the artist-a great
ing"r-but a eveat lady. Roland
iayes, OF whom we have long been
'roud, became a symbol OF true
greatness when he objected to the
buses OF Georgia Negro haters.
he late Bert Williams. greatest
ever to appear on the