Past Events

Explore Paul Robeson as an Actor and Activist

In conjunction with Ian Doescher's "Shakespeare 2020 Project," the Division of Parks and Forestry of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will host a lively discussion and exploration of Paul Robeson's historic portrayal of Shakespeare's Othello in connection with his roles as both an actor and activist. Members of the general public as well as the Rutgers community are encouraged to participate.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Paul Robeson: Continuing Their Legacy

Join us for a FREE day filled with food, learning activities, performances, mural painting, and conversation for ALL ages!

When: Monday, January 20, 2020, 1-4PM

*In case of snow, the event will be on February 17, 2020.

Become Part of the Robeson Legacy!

Students are invited to help mark the end of the Paul Robeson Centennial Celebration on December 10 at The Cove in Busch Student Center and help increase awareness of Paul Robeson's life and legacy. In addition to free refreshments and giveaways, students are also encouraged to fill out their own lawn signs that complete the statement, "I Live the Legacy by...," which will be displayed in the Busch Student Center and outside of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. To receive a giveaway, students must bring an item to donate to the Rutgers Food Pantry -- giveaways will include: t-shirts, postcards, pins, magnets, and tech tattoos. In addition to the display of artifacts, posters, and other such Robeson memorabilia demonstrating his influential roles at Rutgers as well as in media and as an activist, student participants will have the chance to augment this display by using a photo booth to take pictures with their lawn signs and post them via social media to share their own part of this ongoing legacy.

Women of Color in STEM - Embrace Your Self-Advocacy and Problem-Solving Abilities in this Workshop!

This interactive, two-hour session will begin with students anonymously sharing in writing the challenges that they have experienced as women of color in STEM. These challenges will be grouped thematically during the keynote presentation by self-identified Latina STEMinist, Patricia Valoy, a nationally recognized as a STEM diversity consultant. Following her address, she will engage in a dialogue with audience members, where both she and the participants will collectively generate solutions to the challenges presented. At the end of the session, a short evaluation will be administered to determine if the intended outcomes have been achieved and to provide guidance for future programming. All undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral research associates in STEM, who identify as either women of color or allies, are welcome.

Registration information will follow shortly.

Mothers of the Movement Lead a Social Justice Teach-In at Rutgers

On November 14, join a social justice teach-in led by the Mothers of the Movement—a group of nationally renowned mothers that are also leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement—as they share their experiences of turning loss and grief into social and political action. Speakers will also discuss the importance of advocacy in honoring the legacies of their children. The teach-in is a conversational, participatory, and action-oriented event that encourages critical dialogue and audience engagement. This event is open to the public and co-sponsored by Douglass Residential College, Institute for Women's Leadership, Department of Women's and Gender Studies, and the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. Learn more and register.

Eslanda Robeson: An Unconventional Life--Artist, Writer, & Activist

Dr. Barbara Ransby is a historian, writer, longtime political activist, and professor of history, gender and women's studies, and African American studies at the University of Illinois. Dr. Ransby will discuss her most recent book, Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson. This lecture is an opportunity to reflect on the life and accomplishments of Eslanda Robeson as we commemorate the centennial of Paul Robeson’s graduation from Rutgers.

The event begins with a reception at 3:30 p.m. followed by the lecture at 5:00 p.m.

View the event flyer (PDF).

Paul Robeson, "Negro-Jewish" Unity, and the "Jewish People’s Movement" in the 1940s: Challenges and Legacy

The Rutgers Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life and the departments of Jewish studies and history invite you to explore the lives of the individuals who were central to Paul Robeson's "Negro-Jewish" activism, including members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, Itzik Feffer and Shlomo Mikhoels. This panel discussion's over-arching theme will emphasize Robeson’s commitment to black-Jewish relations as a model for contemporary cross-ethnic alliances and inter-racial unity. Panelists will include: Professor Tony Michels, University of Wisconsin; public historian, Dr. Jennifer Young; and Professor David Greenberg, Rutgers.

Celebration of Paul Robeson's Impact on the Harlem Renaissance

This celebration of Paul Robeson's life, influence, and impact during the Harlem Renaissance will feature:

• Dr. Kara Johnson, Associate Dean of Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, as the event presenter;
• Paul Robeson Centennial Committee; and
• student representation from Cap and Skull, Phi Beta Kappa, Paul Robeson Scholars, Africana Studies, Paul Robeson Leadership Academy, and Alpha Phi Alpha.

Additionally, the Mason Gross Student Jazz Ensemble will provide music for this event and brunch, including food and cocktails, will be served. All students, as well as members of both the Rutgers and local communities, are welcome. Registration is required and limited to 100 attendees.

To register and purchase tickets, please visit The Rutgers Club's website.

Everything Man: Paul Robeson in Scholarship and Song

Embrace Paul Robeson as an activist and a musician in this celebration sponsored by the Rutgers Departments of English, Women's and Gender Studies, and American Studies. This event will feature a lecture by Shana L. Redmond, the author of the forthcoming book, Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson, as well as a musical performance of some of Robeson's best-known compositions. All are welcome and there will be a reception to follow.

Learn more about the upcoming publication, Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson.

View the event flyer (PDF).

Crossroads Theatre Company Brings Paul Robeson to the Stage

Community members across Rutgers and the city of New Brunswick are invited to watch the play Paul Robeson, which honors Robeson's tremendous achievements and his often complicated life. Find out more about showtimes, seat availability, and purchasing tickets by visiting the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center events calendar.

Dedication of Paul Robeson Boulevard

You're invited to join the dedication ceremony for Paul Robeson Boulevard in honor of Paul Robeson, a man ahead of his time who lived an accomplished life rich in culture, politics, education, and activism. Join us at the intersection of Baldwin Street and Paul Robeson Boulevard (formerly Commercial Avenue), as we commemorate his legacy during the centennial anniversary of his graduation from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Watch a timelapse of Paul Robeson Blvd sign being erected on Route 18

RAAA: Walking in the Footsteps of Paul Robeson

Students, alumni, and other community members are encouraged to join the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance for a tour of Rutgers through Paul Robeson's eyes and permit yourself to walk a mile in his shoes as you walk the Old Queens Campus and Voorhees Mall, culminating at the recently dedicated Paul Robeson Plaza. There will be related readings of poetry and quotes, a rare ringing of the Old Queens Bell, and much more! Mr. Marvin Jefferson, actor and creator of "Paul Robeson, A Chautauqua – The Life and Times of Paul Robeson," will be the featured guest. This event is free and registration is required.

Click here to register.

Rites of Passage Ceremony

The Rites of Passage Ceremony is a pre-commencement celebration to honor Black and Latinx-identified students who through resolute persistence have successfully completed their undergraduate or graduate degrees at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, recognizing their accomplishments, hard work, and dedication, while simultaneously acknowledging the accomplishments of our students’ families and networks of support. This event will feature distinguished speakers, live performances, and the incorporation of African culture and traditions—specifically the culminating Kente Stole presentation—and was designed by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center to provide our community with a culminating cultural pre-commencement experience that draws on fellowship, celebrates the life and legacy of Paul Robeson, extends notions of community, and allows our students and families to see themselves reflected in the university’s efforts to reward, acknowledge, and celebrate academic achievement.

INSPIRE Annual Scientific Teaching Seminar: "Making Black Scientists"

The Rutgers community is encouraged to come learn and demonstrate its commitment to equity, transformation, and social justice as well as inclusive, scientific, and effective teaching of STEM to all student populations at the INSPIRE Annual Scientific Teaching Seminar: "Making Black Scientists." Guest speaker will be Dr. Marybeth Gasman, Director of Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions, joining us from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

ROHA Recognizes Contributions to History

Help celebrate figures who have made tremendous contributions to the field of oral history. This event will specifically recognize this year's recipient of the Stephen E. Ambrose Oral History Award, Rutgers Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of History and Professor of Women's and Gender Studies Deborah Gray White, for pioneering and championing the study of African-American history and women's history in academia. We will also honor Donald A. Ritchie, Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate, with the inaugural Rutgers Oral History Archives Legacy Award, which commemorates his contributions to the field of oral history and the intellectual life of oral history practice at Rutgers. This event will be open to the public and will include brunch.

Heldrich Center's Diversity and Inclusion Forum

The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development will host a Diversity and Inclusion Forum as an event dedicated to the center's mission of strengthening the American workforce as well as to increase workers' employability. This forum will focus on the overall status of diversity and inclusion in New Jersey—as well as regionally in terms of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors—and will include best practice strategies and diversity implementation plans. It will also recognize the groundbreaking work of the iconic Paul Robeson as a social change advocate and champion of social justice, especially in terms of Robeson's vision for “One America.” Guest speakers will be drawn from all workforce sectors and will participate in an extensive dialogue as well as a question and answer session.

Paul Robeson & The Politics of Memory

Explore the complex politics surrounding how the public, individuals, and institutions choose to remember the iconic Paul Robeson, cycling between his celebrity, obscurity, and resurrection over the course of his life up through today.

For more event details, including the guest speakers, please refer to the JPG event flyer.

The Color of Law

Researcher as well as social and human rights advocate, Richard Rothstein will discuss the themes of his book, The Color of Law, which examines the forgotten history of how federal, state, and local policy explicitly segregated metropolitan areas nationwide creating racially homogeneous neighborhoods in patterns that violate the Constitution.

Paul Robeson Plaza Dedication

The Paul Robeson Plaza unveiled on Friday honors Rutgers' most acclaimed alumnus, a distinguished scholar, athlete, actor, and singer who left a legacy of global activism for civil rights and social justice. The dedication ceremony included performances, readings, and remembrances that celebrated Robeson's achievements and contributions to the world.

The open-air plaza, which features eight black granite panels detailing the story of Robeson’s life, stands in a prominent location next to the Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue Campus at Rutgers–New Brunswick. The plaza was envisioned and championed by the Class of 1971 for its 45th anniversary, with strong support from the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance (RAAA), Inc. Read more about the dedication.

Watch the dedication and unveiling of the Paul Robeson Plaza

Photos from Paul Robeson Plaza Dedication Ceremony
View more photos from the ceremony.

Paul Robeson Plaza

Susan Robeson speaks at the Paul Robeson Plaza dedication.

Department of English postdoctoral associate Melanie Hill plays violin at the Paul Robeson Plaza dedication.

Alumni and members of the Class of 1971 Robeson Plaza Planning Committee join Susan Robeson and Jim Savage (RC'71 with scissors) in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Robeson Fest

Join the Division of Student Affairs and #IAmRobeson Week for our inaugural Robeson Fest on Friday, April 12 from 1 p.m.–3 p.m. on Voorhees Mall as we engage students and other community members in a fun, festive celebration of Paul Robeson’s legacy! Community members will have an opportunity to enjoy inflatables, fun foods, games, and prizes all while learning about the incredible legacy of Paul Robeson. Come out and help make this an annual event where students and community members alike can actively engage in support of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be inspired and get involved! View the Robeson Fest photo gallery.

Robeson Fest 2019 Event Flyer (PDF)

A Paul Robeson 'Teach-In': Intolerance of the Few vs. the Humanity of the Many

You're invited to join your fellow students, staff, faculty, and community members to listen to the poetry inspired by the life and words of Paul Robeson at the Paul Robeson 'Teach-In': Intolerance of the Few vs. the Humanity of the Many. This day-long event will end with a poetry slam that honors Robeson's memory in the spirit of his quote, “the answer to injustice is not to silence the critic, but to end the injustice.” The top performers will be eligible for prizes of $250, $100, and $50. Learn more and register to participate.

I Am Robeson Week

During the fourth annual I Am Robeson Week, Robeson's legacy and values for social justice will be honored. We will have a graduate student day of Robeson presentations, a movie screening of Showboat, a Paul Robeson lecture featuring a prominent scholar/activist, a performance in partnership with Mason Gross, a black men's mentoring session connecting Robeson to the black male at Rutgers today, and the week will conclude with the unveiling of the Robeson Plaza. These events run from April 5 through April 12 and there will be birthday cupcakes distributed on April 9 at the College Avenue Student Center to celebrate Robeson's birthday.

Full Listing of I Am Robeson Week Events (PDF)

Annual Teaching the World Forum and Urban Teaching Matters Conference

The eighth annual Teaching the World Forum and the fifth annual Urban Teaching Matters Conference combine for an exciting event by and for urban- and global-focused educators, designed for the mutual exchange of ideas, support, and inspiration. Be sure to join this gathering of alumni, allies working in the field, and committed educators in harnessing the group's wisdom and expertise in a collective effort to ensure the youth in urban schools reach their full potential.

The conference includes a keynote address by Rosalyn Barnes, principal of Watters School #24 in Jersey City, as well as a multimedia performance by the accomplished actor Randy Noojin. There is a registration fee of $25. Register today.

“Fight for Freedom”: Paul Robeson’s Life and Legacy

Explore the life of Paul Robeson, one of Rutgers's most distinguished alumni and a true renaissance man, through a unique collection of archival records, documents, photographs, and memorabilia supported by Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries. Trace the contours of Paul Robeson's remarkable life growing up in New Jersey through the lens of his illustrious careers as actor and singer as well as his outspoken global activism as a champion of equality and humanity throughout the world. While the exhibition will cover his entire life and career, it places particular emphasis on Robeson's early years within the context of the black experience in New Jersey, his time "on the banks," and his early career in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance. It will be exhibited through October 21, 2019, and is open to all.

James Dickson Carr Lecture Series: Laura Coates

RESCHEDULED (03/06/19) The lecture series, named in honor of James Dickson Carr (PDF) who was the first African American graduate of Rutgers University, invites public intellectuals to visit campus to discuss pressing issues of diversity, access, and equity in a public lecture and open dialogue with the Rutgers community. Laura Coates, professor at George Washington University School of Law, esteemed attorney, political commentator, author, and radio talk show host, will serve as this years’ lecturer. Open to all students, staff, and faculty.

An Evening with the Titans of Song

The musical group Titans of Song will perform an evening of music featuring Paul Robeson and Marian Anderson and provide an exciting narrative and multimedia presentation.

The Making of Paul Robeson through Lincoln University, PA and Somerville, NJ

Discover more about the life and legacy of Paul Robeson through an open discussion led by the featured faculty panelists with backgrounds in Africana studies: Dr. Leonard Bethel, Professor Emeritus, Africana studies, Rutgers University, and Dr. Randall Westbrook, faculty member at the School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University as well as in Africana studies at Rutgers University. They will reflect on how Robeson's life of activism was shaped by the experiences of his father, Reverend William Drew Robeson, in both of these historic locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

An Evening of Gospel Choirs

Join in one of the oldest and most anticipated annual Black History Month events in Middlesex County, An Evening of Gospel Choirs. Drawing musicians and singers from churches across central New Jersey, this event brings new light and celebration to the traditional roots of Black gospel music, including Protestant hymns and African-American spirituals, as well as featuring urban contemporary gospel. There will also be a keynote address honoring Paul Robeson delivered by Robeson Centennial Committee member and Chair of the Rutgers Department of Africana Studies, Professor Edward Ramsamy.

Unfree Memories: Slavery and Materiality in the Atlantic World

This one-day conference will reexamine the material remains of Atlantic slavery, with notable speakers from across North and South America, by focusing on new interpretations of archeological finds, transnational lines of communication, and the role of the digital humanities in producing knowledge. The conference will have three main themes: the challenge of interpreting difficult histories; creating transnational contexts for interpretation; and the memorializing the material remains of slavery. This event is free, open to the public, and will include lunch.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Paul Robeson

Saint Peter's University Hospital will dedicate its 2019 Black History Month celebration to the outstanding life of Paul Robeson. There will be photographs of Paul Robeson, presentations, and refreshments.

RU1st Forum

At the RU1^st Forum, a panel of national experts will speak on the affairs of first-generation students and services to support this population during Rutgers Student Access and Educational Equity's Access Week. Attendees will learn best practices to help facilitate retention and four-year graduation rates of students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented.

Rutgers Highlights the Multifaceted Perspectives of Paul Robeson in Art Exhibit

The Zimmerli Art Museum will feature six portraits of Paul Robeson highlighting the different facets of his identity. The exhibit was commissioned as part of a joint project between the university’s Robeson Centennial Celebration Committee, Rutgers–New Brunswick, and the museum. The portraits will be on display from February 9 through April 28.

Meet and Greet at Paul Robeson Cultural Center

Meet, greet, and forge new fellowship across the diaspora and Rutgers. Connect with faculty, staff, and alumni of color while enhancing your professional portfolio. Refreshments will be provided.

The Life and Times of Paul Robeson

Renowned actor and college theater instructor, Marvin Jefferson, will present an historical portrayal of Paul Robeson's life and myriad accomplishments as a 20th century Renaissance man. This performance will commemorate Robeson's legacy as well as the unveiling of the month-long display that the library will host throughout the month of February.
This event is presented by the New Brunswick African American Heritage Committee in conjunction with the Friends of the Library and funded through a grant from the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History and supported by the NJ Council for the Humanities.

From Robeson to King

Today's civil rights movement would not be possible without the work of Paul Robeson and Martin Luther King Jr., Black Lives Matter cofounder Opal Tometi said during the official kickoff of a yearlong celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Robeson's graduation from Rutgers.

Tables of Understanding Progressive Dinner

This event will be a gathering of students, artists, community members, and university leaders centered around a shared dining experience with engaging dialogue focused on key and meaningful topics.

Invitation only

Byrne Seminar Final Presentations

Students deliver their final presentations as part of the Byrne Seminar "The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Celebrating the 100 Year Anniversary of Paul Robeson’s Graduation from Rutgers." The seminar is co-taught by Susan Robeson, executive director of the Paul Robeson Foundation and granddaughter of Paul Robeson, Edward Ramsamy, chair of the department of Africana studies, and James Whitney III, assistant vice chancellor of undergraduate academic affairs.

Partner Open House at Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts

Share in the excitement of students and staff at the Partner Open House to tour the newly renovated Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts. The school serves students in kindergarten through grade 6. Enjoy a brief student performance and light refreshments.

Paul Robeson Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony

Join us for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Paul Robeson Plaza, an initiative conceived and championed by Rutgers Class of 1971 on the occasion of their 45^th anniversary.  The three year-year fundraising campaign was led by the Class of 1971, assisted by the Rutgers’ African-American Alumni Alliance (RAAA), Inc. to honor the legacy of Rutgers College alum Paul Robeson.