Paul Leroy Robeson is born on April 9th in Princeton, New Jersey, to Rev. William Drew and Maria Louisa Robeson.
Maria Louisa Robeson dies when Paul is only 6 years old.
The Robesons move to Westfield where Paul begins attending an integrated public school for the first time.
Wins a four-year scholarship to Rutgers in a statewide writing contest. He is the third African American to attend the school.
Legendary Yale Football Coach Walter Camp puts Robeson on his All-American team; this honor will be repeated in 1918.
While at Rutgers Robeson will win 15 varsity letters in four sports and is a star scholar, orator, singer, and valedictorian.
Starts Law School at Columbia University. Pays his tuition by playing professional football and tutoring Latin.
Marries Eslanda "Essie" Goode.
Robeson debuts the lead role of Eugene O'Neill's "All God's Chillun Got Wings" despite threats of riots.
Appears in the London Production of "The Emperor Jones;" on the opening night he is called back for 12 ovations.
Paul Robeson, Jr. is born.
Appears in the London production of "Show Boat," and creates a sensation singing "Ol' Man River."
Invited by filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein to visit the Soviet Union.
Appears in the lavish Hollywood production of SHOW BOAT. Discusses moving his family to the Soviet Union.
Featured in the films "Song of Freedom" and "King Solomon's Mine."
Performances at Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm spontaneously turn into anti-Nazi demonstrations.
The FBI places Paul Robeson under surveillance after suspecting him of being a communist.
After appearing in the film "Tales of Manhattan," announces he will no longer act in Hollywood movies because of their portrayal of black characters.
Performs in a Broadway production of "Othello;" the show is seen as a milestone in race relations.
Receives the Abraham Lincoln Medal for notable and distinguished service in human relations.
Receives the NAACP's highest honor, the Springarn medal.
Becomes the first American banned from TV when his appearance on "Today with Mrs. Roosevelt" is stopped under the new Internal Security Act.
Labeled a communist and is blacklisted from record companies; responds by funding his own label and recording two albums.
India declares Paul Robeson Day on March 17. He makes his triumphant return to the New York stage with a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall.
Diagnosed with a bone disorder called Paget's disease.
Essie Robeson dies right before her 70th birthday; Paul moves in with his sister who cares for him.
Paul Robeson passes away at the age of 77 in Philadelphia.
