robeson

Every day, about 43,000 people walk through the HUB-Robeson Center.

The HUB-Robeson Center is an iconic part of Penn State culture — it is constantly mentioned in conversations across campus every day.

“Let’s meet in the HUB.”

“She’s studying in the HUB.”

“Did you hear about the concert in the HUB tomorrow?”

“The HUB’s elevators smell really weird. Like, fruity. Why is that?”

(That last statement is probably only said by yours truly.)

I don’t think there’s a Penn State student who refers to the HUB as the “HUB-Robeson Center.” Its second name — Robeson — is not mentioned, let alone questioned.

However, the HUB’s second name contributes to the important discussion of racial history at Penn State, and in America.

It is named after Paul Robeson, who was an important civil rights figure.

Paul Robeson.

Image via Biography.com

Robeson was born in 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey. His father was a former slave. Robeson’s mother died when he was six years old; Robeson and his father, a preacher, moved to Somerville after his mother’s death.

Robeson attended Rutgers University, where he played football. Robeson graduated as the valedictorian of his class. While he could have pursued a career in professional football after graduation, he instead chose to attend Columbia University.

Robeson married journalist and fellow Columbia student Eslanda Goode in 1921.

He received a law degree from Columbia in 1923. He taught Latin and played professional football in order to pay his way through college. (This guy is teaching Latin and playing football professionally to pay his way through college — it makes my summer job at Chick-fil-A look pitiful, to say the least.)

However, as it was difficult for African-Americans to pursue a career in law at this time, he decided to begin a career in theater. Yeah, Robeson was athletic, smart, and good at singing and acting. I’m (maybe) one of those things. Maybe.

Robeson, probably.

Image via Pinterest

As a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, Robeson shook New York City as he excelled in plays and musicals. His roles in The Emperor Jones and Show Boat were both critically acclaimed. His role as Othello in Othello on Broadway in 1930 was also highly praised; the show, which had 296 performances, remains the longest-running Shakespeare play in all of Broadway’s history.

Robeson starring in Othello. I’d hate to wear those weird robes.

Image via Encyclopedia Brittanica 

Robeson became increasingly interested in his heritage in the 1930s, and embraced his African ancestry. He attended the School of Oriental and African Studies in London in 1934.

Robeson was considered a humanitarian, and often used his voice to speak out against racism in the world. He promoted Pan-Africanism, supported anti-Nazi demonstrations, and performed for the Allied Forces during World War II.

Controversially, Robeson made several visits to the Soviet Union in the 1930s. He studied Russian and was said to have appreciated the Russian culture. This interest in the Soviet Union caused him to become blacklisted in the late 1940s, as a McCarthy-era America was obsessed with the fear of Communism. When he refused to sign a document denouncing the Communist Party, the United States government took his passport.

After being blacklisted by the United States government, he was barred from concerts, record labels, and film studios.

Robeson’s passport was reinstated in 1958. He also published an autobiography, titled Here I Stand, the same year. You know you’re a somebody if you can write an autobiography.

However, many saw Robeson’s reputation as smeared because of his alleged ties with Communism. He suffered from depression and poor health in the later half of his life.

In 1965, Robeson’s wife passed away. Robeson died of a stroke in 1976, at age 77, in Philadelphia.

So, why is Penn State’s most popular building on campus named after him?

In 1972, students at Penn State proposed that the Black Cultural Center at Penn State be named after Robeson. Both faculty and students felt that Robeson’s academic, athletic, artistic, and humanitarian accomplishments served as a good model for students. The center was renamed the Paul Robeson Cultural Center; in 1999, the center moved into a new building, which would become the HUB-Robeson Center.

So, next time you stop for a Starbucks Frappuccino or Chick-Fil-A sandwich in the HUB, think of it as the HUB-Robeson Center. Its name stands for diversity, progress, and achievement.

The HUB-Robeson Center. Not sure when this was taken, but I’ve never seen the outside of the HUB this empty.

Image via Flickr