Scholarly Presentations Leading Robeson scholars will address two overriding questions: What substantive conclusions did Robeson draw about his studies of everything from Igbo culture to Proust, and in what ways did his studies significantly influence his life and work? Topics include Robeson as public intellectual, the cultural politics of Robeson and Richard Wright, and Marx's and Engels’ influences on Robeson’s intellect.

Performances Dynamic spoken-word artist Saul Williams co-wrote and starred in Slam, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival and Camera d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. Bass baritone Alvy Powell of the U.S. Army Chorus will perform “A Robeson Portrait” to mark the 107th anniversary of Paul Robeson’s birthday.

Film Festival A festival of Robeson’s films will include The Emperor Jones (1933), Song of Freedom (1936), Showboat (1936), Proud Valley (1939), and Tales of Manhattan (1942). Documentaries will include Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979), winner of the Academy Award for Documentary (Short Subjects), and Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999).