Paul Robeson was born April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of an escaped slave. He rose to unparalleled heights as an athlete, actor, singer, and activist, and was arguably the most prominent African American from the 1920s through the 1950s. This work is a compilation of 18 essays written by scholars and activists that were presented at a one-day conference held at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus on February 28, 1998, to honor Robeson's life and legacy. The essays discuss his significance as a singer, his political activism, his efforts to achieve solidarity between...

Dorothy Epstein grew up in one of New York City's immigrant communities during the early years of the 20th century. Taking advantage of the city's free public higher education, she graduated with honors from Hunter College and entered the workforce during the depths of the Great Depression. Radicalized by the combination of the depression, the rise of fascism and her experiences as a trade union activist, she spent all her adult life working for labor and human rights. A stroke of fate led her into the then burgeoning vitamin industry and a successful business career. During her so-called...