The story of Paul Robeson and the unbreakable bond he formed with the miners of Wales

[Siwsan]

A talented singer, actor, Civil Rights campaigner and social activist, Paul Robeson played an important part in Wales' history

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In a chance meeting which took place in 1929 as Robeson made his way home after a matinee performance of Show Boat, he heard the singing of what sounded like a male voice choir coming from the street.

He was startled to see that the singing was coming from a protest march made up of working men who were a party of Welsh miners from the Rhondda Valley who had walked to London in protest after being blacklisted by their employers.

Empathising with the miners, Robeson joined the march without hesitation and even gave a rendition of Ol’ Man River when the march stopped outside a city building.

He then gave a donation so the miners could return home by train and also provided them with food and clothing.

It was a selfless act of kindness that would be remembered by those miners and it was the start of a blossoming relationship between Robeson and Wales.

He contributed concert fees to the Welsh miners’ relief fund and after learning about the death of 266 men at the Gresford colliery, near Wrexham , he donated his fees from his concert in Caernarfon towards the fund established for the children of the deceased.

It was his interactions with the miners’ cause and witnessing the harsh working conditions and trade union movement that ignited Robeson’s political activism and changed his view on the world.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/story-paul-robeson-unbreakable-bond-16114516

[malaise]

1. What a beautiful story

He was a great man - my dad adored him.
Get thee to the greatest page

[Siwsan]

2. As the granddaughter and great granddaughter of Welsh coal miners, this story touches my heart

He was, indeed, a great man.

[marybourg]

3. . . . and athlete, scholar and lawyer.

[joetheman]

4. Thanks for posting. He was a champion for Russia when Russia was a champion for people.

So much has changed since those days and yet many things remain the same. It's not easy being human.

[Boomerproud]

5. An extraordinary man. One of a kind.

[lindysalsagal]

6. Wales was treated only halfway as badly as Ireland and Scotland

Once the "English" took their natural resources and left, at least they didn't try to eliminate the entire culture.

[Siwsan]

7. The language was much outlawed, so yes, they did try to eliminate the culture

Shockingly, that law was initiated by Henry VIII, who was of Welsh ancestry, himself. Until recent decades, the only monarch that showed any respect to the Welsh, other than Henry VII, son of Edmund Tudor, was Elizabeth I. She actually spoke the language. After centuries, it is slowly recovering. VERY slowly. Even now there is backlash against native speakers. And credit where credit is due, Prince Charles also has learned Welsh.

Take a look and compare the number of English castles in Wales with the number built in Scotland or Ireland. Wales was occupied, very early on.

I have immense respect for all of the Celt/Gaul people. All suffered under the English boot.