The Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Social Justice was founded in 1999 to preserve Paul Robeson’s legacy in the area where he came of age as an artist, athlete, orator, and scholar. The Institute envisions a global community of diverse cultures that embodies, through attitudes and behaviors, Paul Robeson’s ideals, beliefs, values, and vision for a world of justice and peace.
Paul Robeson (1898–1976) was a New Jersey native who grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School before becoming one of the most influential artists and activists of the 20th century. A brilliant scholar and athlete, he went on to excel at Rutgers University, where he was valedictorian, and later earned his law degree from Columbia. Robeson became world-renowned for his powerful voice, stage and film performances, and his unwavering belief in equity and human rights. Throughout his life, he used his platform to challenge racism, support workers’ rights, and advocate for global justice, leaving a lasting legacy of courage, talent, and social change.
