This is FRESH AIR. Bass-baritone Paul Robeson was one of the most popular figures of the 20th century, and also one of the most controversial. He died in 1976 at the age of 77, leaving a huge imprint ...
Lawrence Brown (left) and Paul Robeson perform at the Mother A.M.E. Zion Church in Harlem, N.Y., in 1941. (Sony Classical) Singing or acting on stage and film, playing football and advocating for ...