
HAP 83 - Songs of the People - Paul Robeson and the Negro Spiritual
History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China
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'Neo Spirituals'
From early on, robeson was torn not just between his political commandments and commercial success. He wondered, can i be an artist with just negro songs? But then fretted that improving his singing technique was making his performances less compelling. What audiences, perhaps especially white audiences, wanted from robeson was a feeling of authenticity.
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