Paul Robeson: My Name is Paul

Further Info

This story was made as part of the “Recalling Robeson” project, celebrating the life and work of black actor, singer and campaigner, Paul Robeson. Led by Anna Farthing of Harvest Heritage Arts and Media, supported by Bristol Old Vic, Colston Hall, Watershed, Pervasive Media Studio, ABLAZE, Aim Higher, Festival of Idea, The Paul Robeson Wales Trust, The South Wales
Miners Library,  and numerous volunteers.

Transcript

My name’s Paul Dunn.

(interviewer) And why are you called Paul?

I was named after Paul Robeson! My parents were involved in the campaigns to try to pressurize the American government to give Paul Robeson his passport back so that he could travel overseas again in the late 50’s.

They were passionate, I mean they loved Paul Robeson, not only the singer and the actor, but they loved him, his civil rights campaigns as well so that’s why I’ was named after him.

The one time I met him was when in fact he did get his passport back and he came over to Britain and sang at the Albert Hall, and I can remember my Dad, well my Mum and Dad were there, my sister and brother. ‘So do you want to go and meet him?’ I said ‘oh yeah’ so after the concert we went down into the Green Room at the Albert Hall and obviously we were all introduced, but I was introduced as Paul. My parents said I was named after him and he sat me on his knee and he called me Little Paul and I’ve carried that with me ever since. Fantastic!

Credits