1898 – Paul Robeson is Born
Paul Robeson, born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1898, is often lauded as the true Renaissance Man of the 20th century. Not only was he a talented singer, actor, and athlete; Robeson was a cultural scholar and political activist. One of the first Black students to be admitted to Rutgers University, Robeson briefly worked as a lawyer before turning his focus to a widely successful acting career. Known for his outspokenness and stance against injustice, allegations that Robeson was a Communist nearly ruined his reputation. He passed away in 1976 at 77 years old.
1950 – Juanita Hall Wins Tony Award
On April 9, 1950 Juanita Hall made history as the first Black actor to win a Tony Award for her role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production of South Pacific. She performed over 1,900 shows at The Majestic Theater in New York City as “Bloody Mary,” for which she received the award for Best Actress in a Featured Role. Hall continued to dazzle audiences with her stage presence in many Broadway shows, films, and live musical performances until she had to stop performing due to poor health. She passed away at 66 in 1968.
