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Paul Robeson Chautauqua Videos

The Commission has video taped the Chautauqua (a dramatic impersonation of a historical figure) it inaugurated in 1997 as a project to commemorate the centennial of Paul Robeson’s birth (April 9, 1898). The videotape is available as a curriculum resource in three different versions for the elementary, middle, and high schools. The videos feature the professional actor Marvin Jefferson as Paul Robeson.

Paul Robeson: Singer (20 minutes) is designed for fourth-grade students and focuses on Robeson’s career as a major interpreter of the folk songs of many cultures.

Paul Robeson: Scholar-Athlete (24 minutes), prepared for middle school students, concentrates on Robeson’s days at Rutgers University where his academic record and athletic achievements remain legendary.

Paul Robeson: Political Activist (27 minutes) is for high school students and highlights Robeson’s role as the politically engaged artist. The programs were taped before audiences of Newark public school students, some of whom ask the Robeson Chautauqua (Marvin Jefferson) questions.

The videos were made possible by generous grants from the Hite Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Given the broad and rich nature of Robeson’s life, the three videos expose students to such fields as history, geography, music, languages, philosophy, and political science. The videos’ content will help to achieve the state Department of Education’s core curriculum standards for United States and New Jersey history. A teacher’s guide accompanies each video.

Cost: $10.00 ppd. per video (including teacher’s guide). Checks should be payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey.” Order from Publications, NJ Historical Commission, PO Box 305, Trenton 08625-0305; (609) 292-6062, fax 633-8168. 

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