On 20 January, 2004, the U.S. Postal Service added another collectible postage stamp to its Black Heritage commemorative stamps series with their dedication of the 37-cent Paul Robeson stamp. Robeson, a world-famous singer and actor, appears on the 27th stamp in the popular Black Heritage stamp series.

The Life of Paul Robeson

According to Britannica.com, Paul Robeson was born on 9 April, 1898 in Princeton, Jew Jersey. Robeson attended Rutgers University where he was awarded All-America status in football. After graduating from Rutgers, Robeson next attended Columbia University, obtaining a law degree in 1923.

The lack of opportunity for a black man to practice law led Robeson to enter the acting profession, joining the Provincetown Players in New York. Playwright Eugene O'Neill was a member of the Players. Robeson subsequently appeared in O'Neill's All God's Chillun Got Wings (1924) and The Emperor Jones (1924). When The Emperor Jones was made into a movie in 1933, Robeson starred in the film.

Robeson also boasted an outstanding bass-baritone singing voice, becoming internationally famous for his performance of "Ol' Man River" in the musical play Show Boat.

In 1934, Robeson visited the Soviet Union and became attracted to communist-leaning politics. In 1950, the U.S. State Department withdrew his passport over his communist beliefs, but the U.S. Supreme Court restored his passport in 1958.

With his passport returned, Robeson left his birth country to travel Soviet bloc countries in Europe. When his health began to fail, Robeson relented and returned to the United States.

Paul Robeson died on 23 January, 1976 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

USPS Paul Robeson Black Heritage Stamp

As seen in USA Philatelic: Beyond the Perf, Issue 016, with the Paul Robeson issue, the USPS released the final stamp with its unpopular design change in the Black Heritage series.

All previous designs used illustrations, paintings, or engravings to depict their subjects - the Robeson stamp features a 1967 photograph attributed to Annette and Basil Zarov circa 1943. The USPS discontinued the use of photographs on the Black Heritage stamps the following year.

Several stamps in the Black Heritage series have met with resistance due to the radical ties displayed by the subjects. While not specifically mentioned in the USA Philatelic: Beyond the Perf article on the Black Heritage series, the Paul Robeson stamp almost certainly drew criticism for his perceived communist ties.