Paul Robeson: Those Were the Days

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

Once upon a time there was a republic chosen by the people, but the army staged a Coup d'État. The army was helped by Hitler and Mussolini and by other countries whilst the USA or the rest of Europe didn’t react and preferred resting in silence. So these people stayed alone.

(music and sound of bombs and planes attacking a city)

But later a romantic story unfolded. Several thousands of people from all around the world organised themselves voluntarily to help these people whose freedom was threatened. They were North American, South American, French, Cuban, Swedish, Chinese, a multi racial brigade with people that came perhaps to die for others’ freedom. They marched to the rhythm of jazz and to the Paul Robeson songs.

This war was lost and from those years we learnt to fear, to lose, to forget, to be submissive, to resign, to alienate. Every time we are more tied up our heads are more dense and sleepy and we don’t do anything anymore.

Paul Robeson sang with the international brigades 70 years ago, but let’s think that if he fought, so can we.

Credits

Archive footage created by Archive.org, used under Public Domain licence.