WHEREAS, Paul Robeson is one of the most remarkable and talented men of the 20th Century, and April 9, 1998 marks the Centennial of his birth; and

WHEREAS, Paul Robeson was one of the first African Americans to be named "All American in College Football" and was an all around athlete, a star of baseball, track, and basketball; and

WHEREAS, he was one of the first African Americans to be admitted to Rutgers University where he excelled, was Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and Valedictorian of his graduating class; and

WHEREAS, Paul Robeson was the 3rd African American to graduate from Columbia Law School, then entering one of New York's most prestigious law firms; and

WHEREAS, he was considered one of the world's greatest concert and interpretive artists and with his glorious deep baritone voice he almost single handily legitimized black spiritual and folk music as an art form; and

WHEREAS, he was the first African American actor to rise to international prominence in film and theater and was responsible for bringing respect and dignity to African and African American characters on the screen and the stage; and

WHEREAS, Paul Robeson was a brilliant scholar, historian, and linguist, speaking and writing in 20 languages including several African tongues as well as Chinese, Russian and Arabic; and

WHEREAS, he was and is a model and inspiration for American youth in athletics, scholarship and for his artistry and accomplishments in music and drama; and

WHEREAS, he was a lifelong activist on behalf of the American labor movement and the rights of working men and women; and

WHEREAS, his contributions to Seattle and our region are memorable for his concerts and tours of the legendary "Othello" with Jose Ferrar and Uta Hagen in the 40's as well as his extraordinary concerts at the U.S. Canada border at Blaine, Washington with over 100,000 in attendance from both sides of the border; and

WHEREAS, with all of these accomplishments Paul Robeson survived persecution, intolerance and indignities capped by the McCarthy era witch hunt. To this day Mr. Paul Robeson is an international hero and one of the great and inspirational Americans of all time.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT: in honor of the Centennial of Paul Robeson's birth, we do hereby proclaim April 9, 1998 Paul Robeson Day and encourage it's citizens to listen to Paul Robeson's glorious voice.

Adopted by the City Council the _____ day of _______________, 1998, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this _____ day of _______________, 1998.

________________________________________ President of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING:

________________________________________ Paul Schell, Mayor

Filed by me this _____ day of _______________, 1998.

________________________________________ City Clerk

author/PS/ctld F: 1998 PAUL ROBESON DAY IN SEATTLE 3/30/98 V #