Community commemorates life of 'native son' Robeson
Exactly 100 years ago, a boy was born at 72 Witherspoon St. whose birth certificate bears only one word ? "Robeson" ? on the line provided for his full name.Tuesday night, University faculty and administrators came together with supporters of the Princeton Arts Council to celebrate the centennial birthday of "Princeton's native son," entertainer Paul Robeson.Provost Jeremiah Ostriker, the evening's first speaker, called Robeson "Princeton's most famous son," but said it was unfortunate that the multi-talented entertainer was a "casualty of the Cold War," betrayed by the country's racist and anticommunist sentiments. A colorful historyRobeson's father was an ex-slave, who escaped from Virginia at the age of 16 and eventually became the pastor of the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.Robeson graduated from Somerville High School and attended Rutgers University, where he was valedictorian of the Class of 1919.