Editing Paul Robeson (section)

==Later years==
===''Here I Stand''===
While still confined in the U.S., Robeson finished his defiant "manifesto-autobiography" ''[[Here I Stand (book)|Here I Stand]]'', published on February 14, 1958. John Vernon noted in ''Negro History Bulletin'' that "few publications dared or cared to review it—as if he had no longer existed".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Vernon |first=John |journal=Negro History Bulletin |volume=63 |number=2/3 |date=April 1999 |jstor=24766680 |title=Paul Robeson, the Cold War, and the Question of African-American Loyalties |pages=47–51}}</ref> In a preface to the 1971 edition, Robeson's friend and collaborator [[Lloyd L. Brown]] wrote that "no white commercial newspaper or magazine in the entire country so much as mentioned Robeson's book. Leading papers in the field of literary coverage, like ''The New York Times'' and the ''Herald-Tribune'', not only did not review it; they refused even to include its name in their lists of 'books out today'."<ref>{{cite book |title=Here I Stand |last=Robeson |first=Paul |page=x |others=Preface by Lloyd L. Brown |year=1971 |orig-date=1958 |publisher=Beacon Press |lccn=70159847}}</ref> Brown added that the boycott was not in effect in foreign countries, for example, ''Here I Stand'' was favorably reviewed in England, Japan, and India. The book also received prompt attention from the [[African American newspapers|African-American press]]. The ''[[Baltimore Afro-American]]'' was the first to champion the merits of Robeson's autobiography. The ''[[Pittsburgh Courier]]'', ''[[Chicago Crusader]]'', and the Los Angeles ''Herald-Dispatch'' soon followed suit. The [[NAACP]]'s magazine, ''[[The Crisis]]'', was more critical in its appraisal.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Lloyd L. |title=Paul Robeson: The Great Forerunner |chapter=Robeson's ''Here I Stand'': The Book They Could Not Ban |editor1=Freedomways |publisher=Dodd, Mead & Company |year=1978b |location=New York |pages=151–156 |isbn=978-0396075455}}</ref>

===1958–1960: Comeback tours===
====Europe====
After Robeson's passport was returned in June 1958, he immediately left the U.S. for Europe.<ref name=":Gao" />{{Rp|page=116}} He embarked on a world tour using London as his base.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Robeson, Part IV: Erasure from Historical Memory |last=Puckett |first=John L. |publisher=West Philadelphia Collaborative History |url=https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/paul-robeson-part-iv-erasure-historical-memory}}</ref> He gave 28 performances in towns and cities around Great Britain. In April 1959, he starred in [[Tony Richardson]]'s production of ''[[Othello]]'' at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=RSC Performances{{!}}OTH195904-Othellos-Shakespeare |url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/oth195904 |access-date=September 12, 2021 |website=Shakespeare Birthplace Trust |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912160240/https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/oth195904 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Moscow in August 1959, he received a tumultuous reception at the [[Luzhniki Stadium]] where he sang classic Russian songs along with American standards.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=469}} Robeson and Essie then flew to Yalta to rest and spend time with [[Nikita Khrushchev]].{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=469–470}}

On October 11, 1959, Robeson took part in a service at London's [[St Paul's Cathedral]], the first black performer to sing there.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=471}}

On a trip to Moscow, Robeson experienced bouts of dizziness and heart problems and was hospitalized for two months while Essie was diagnosed with operable cancer.{{sfn|Robeson|1981|p=218}} He recovered and returned to Great Britain to visit the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales]].<!--disjointed-->

In 1960, in what was his final concert performance in Great Britain, Robeson sang to raise money for the [[Movement for Colonial Freedom]] at the [[Royal Festival Hall]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Daniel G. |date=2015 |title=Wales Unchained: Literature, politics and identity in the American century |page=76 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=978-1783162147 |url={{google books |plain-url=y |id=378mDAAAQBAJ|page=76}} }}</ref>

====Australia and New Zealand====
In October&nbsp;1960, Robeson embarked on a two-month concert tour of Australia and New Zealand with Essie, primarily to generate money,{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=487–491}} at the behest of Australian politician [[Bill Morrow (Australian politician)|Bill Morrow]].{{sfn|Curthoys|2010|p= 171}} While in Sydney, he became the first major artist to perform at the construction site of the future [[Sydney Opera House]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/intothemusic/paul-robeson/4691690 |title=Paul Robeson: The singer who fought for justice and paid with his life |last=Steinke |first=Nicole |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230204325/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/intothemusic/paul-robeson/4691690 |url-status=live }}</ref> After appearing at the [[Brisbane Festival Hall]], they went to Auckland where Robeson reaffirmed his support of [[Marxism-Leninism]],{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=489}} denounced the inequality faced by the [[Māori people|Māori]] and efforts to denigrate their culture.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|p=168}}; {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=489}}</ref> Thereabouts, Robeson publicly stated "...&nbsp;the people of the lands of Socialism want peace dearly".<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|1978a|pp= 470–471}}.<!-- "The People Must, If Necessary, Impose the Peace" -- I'm guessing a pamphlet put out by the Peace Conference which was based in Sydney, Australia. --></ref>

During the tour he was introduced to [[Faith Bandler]] and other activists who aroused the Robesons' concern for the plight of the [[Australian Aborigines|Aboriginal Australians]].<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=164, 173–175}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=490}}</ref> Robeson subsequently demanded that the Australian government provide them with full citizenship and equal rights.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=175–177}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989}}</ref> He attacked the view that they were unsophisticated and uncultured, and declared that "there's no such thing as a ''backward'' human being, there is only a society which says they are backward."<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989}}</ref>

Robeson left Australia as a respected, albeit controversial, figure and his support for Aboriginal rights had a profound effect in Australia over the next decade.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=178–180}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=491}}</ref>

===1961–1963: Health breakdown===

Back in London after his Australia and New Zealand tour, Robeson expressed a desire to return to the United States and participate in the [[civil rights movement]], while his wife argued that he would be unsafe there and "unable to make any money" due to government harassment. In March 1961 Robeson again traveled to Moscow.{{sfn|Robeson|2001|p=309}}

====Moscow breakdown====
During an uncharacteristically wild party in his Moscow hotel room, Robeson locked himself in his bedroom and attempted suicide by cutting his wrists.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=498–499}} Three days later, under Soviet medical care, he told his son, who had received news about his condition and traveled to Moscow, that he felt extreme paranoia, he thought that the walls of the room were moving and, overcome by a powerful sense of emptiness and depression, he tried to take his own life.{{sfn|Nollen|2010|p=180}}

Paul Jr. has stated that his father's health problems stemmed from the CIA's and MI5's attempts to "neutralize" his father.<ref name="Democracy Now">{{cite AV media |medium=radio broadcast |people=(presenter) Amy Goodman |date=July 1, 1999 |title=Did the U.S. Government drug Paul Robeson? Part&nbsp;1 |work=[[Democracy Now]] |url=http://www.democracynow.org/1999/7/1/did_the_cia_drug_paul_robeson |postscript=; |access-date=December 15, 2010 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213142424/https://www.democracynow.org/1999/7/1/did_the_cia_drug_paul_robeson |url-status=live }} [http://www.democracynow.org/1999/7/6/did_the_u_s_government_drug part 2, July 6, 1999] {{Webarchive|date=December 17, 2010|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217164721/http://www.democracynow.org/1999/7/6/did_the_u_s_government_drug}}</ref>{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=563–564}} He remembered that his father had had such fears before his prostate operation.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=438–442}} He said that three doctors treating Robeson in London and New York had been CIA contractors,<ref name="Democracy Now"/> and that his father's symptoms resulted from being "subjected to mind de-patterning under [[MK-ULTRA]]", a secret CIA programme.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Time Out: The Paul Robeson files |magazine=The Nation |date=December 20, 1999 |first=Paul Jr. |last=Robeson |volume=269 |issue=21 |page=9}}</ref> [[Martin Duberman]] wrote that Robeson's health breakdown was probably brought on by a combination of factors including extreme emotional and physical stress, [[Bipolar disorder|bipolar depression]], exhaustion and the beginning of circulatory and heart problems. "[E]ven without an organic predisposition and accumulated pressures of government harassment he might have been susceptible to a breakdown."{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=498–499}}

====Repeated deterioration in London====
Robeson stayed at the [[Barvikha]] [[Sanatorium]] until September&nbsp;1961, when he left for London. There his depression reemerged, and after another period of recuperation in Moscow, he returned to London.

Three days after arriving back{{when|date=September 2021}}, he became suicidal and suffered a panic attack while passing the [[Embassy of Russia, London|Soviet Embassy]].{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=735–736}} He was admitted to the [[Priory Hospital]], where he underwent [[electroconvulsive therapy]] (ECT) and was given heavy doses of drugs for nearly two years, with no accompanying psychotherapy.{{sfn|Nollen|2010|pp=180–181}} During his treatment at the Priory, Robeson was being monitored by the British [[MI5]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/07/uk.race |title=Paul Robeson was tracked by MI5 |last=Travis |first=Alan |date=March 6, 2003 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |postscript=; |access-date=December 12, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818074029/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/07/uk.race |url-status=live }} cf. {{cite news |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]] |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D15246932%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dmi5-tracked-robeson-amid-communist-fears-name_page.html |title=MI5 tracked Robeson amid communist fears |access-date=November 6, 2011 |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122003323/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D15246932%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dmi5-tracked-robeson-amid-communist-fears-name_page.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Both British and American intelligence services were well aware of Robeson's suicidal state of mind: An FBI memo described Robeson's debilitated condition, remarking that his "death would be much publicized" and would be used for Communist propaganda, necessitating continued surveillance.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=509}} Numerous memos advised that Robeson should be denied a passport renewal, an obstacle that was likely to further jeopardize his recovery process.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=498–499}}

====Treatment in East Germany====
In August&nbsp;1963, disturbed about his treatment, friends and family had Robeson transferred to the Buch Clinic in [[East Berlin]].{{sfn|Nollen|2010|p=182}}<ref name="Lamparski">{{cite book |last=Lamparski |first=Richard |year=1968 |title=Whatever Became of ... ? |volume=II |page=9 |publisher=Ace Books}}</ref> Given psychotherapy and less medication, his physicians found him still "completely without initiative" and they expressed "doubt and anger" about the "high level of [[barbiturates]] and ECT" that had been administered in London. He rapidly improved, though his doctor stressed that "what little is left of Paul's health must be quietly conserved."{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=516–518}}

===1963–1976: Retirement===
[[File:Robesonhouse.Philadelphia.JPG|upright|thumb|The [[Paul Robeson House (Philadelphia)|Paul Robeson House]] in Philadelphia (2009)]]
In December 1963, Robeson returned to the United States<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feron |first1=James |title=Robeson Will Return to the U.S. Monday to Retire ... |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/20/archives/robeson-will-return-to-us-monday-to-retire-he-stops-our-in-britain.html |access-date=September 14, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 20, 1963 |pages=10 |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915010353/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/20/archives/robeson-will-return-to-us-monday-to-retire-he-stops-our-in-britain.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and for the remainder of his life lived mainly in seclusion.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=537}} He momentarily assumed a role in the [[civil rights movement]],<ref name="Democracy Now"/> making a few major public appearances before falling seriously ill during a tour. Double pneumonia and a kidney blockage in 1965 nearly killed him.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=537}}

====Invitations to become involved in the civil rights movement====
Robeson was contacted by [[Bayard Rustin]] and [[James Farmer]] and both of them asked him about the possibility of becoming involved in the mainstream of the [[Civil Rights Movement]].{{sfn|Robeson|2001|p=346}}

Because of Rustin's past [[Anti-communism|anti-Communist]] stances, Robeson declined to meet with him. Robeson eventually met with Farmer, but because he was asked to denounce [[Communism]] and the [[Soviet Union]] in order to assume a place in the mainstream, Robeson adamantly declined.{{sfn|Farmer|1985|pp=297–298}}

====Final years====
After Essie, who had been his spokesperson to the media, died in December&nbsp;1965,{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=162–163}} Robeson moved in with his son's family in New York City.{{sfn|Robeson|1981|pp=235–237}}<ref name=Lamparski/> He was rarely seen strolling near his Harlem apartment on [[Jumel Terrace Historic District|Jumel Place]], and his son responded to press inquiries that his "father's health does not permit him to perform, or answer questions."<ref name=Lamparski/> In 1968, he settled at his sister's home in Philadelphia.{{sfn|Bell|1986|p=?}}<ref name=Lamparski/>

Numerous celebrations were held in honor of Robeson over the next several years, including at public arenas that had previously shunned him, but he saw few visitors aside from close friends and gave few statements apart from messages to support current civil rights and international movements, feeling that his record "spoke for itself".{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=516}}

At a Carnegie Hall tribute to mark his 75th birthday in 1973, he was unable to attend, but a taped message from him was played that said: "Though I have not been able to be active for several years, I want you to know that I am the same Paul, dedicated as ever to the worldwide cause of humanity for freedom, peace and brotherhood."{{sfn|Nollen|2010|p=186}}

===1976: Death, funeral, and public response===
On January 23, 1976, following complications of a stroke, Robeson died in Philadelphia at the age of 77.<ref name="died">{{Cite news |date=February 2, 1976 |title=Died |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,945524,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819174059/https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,945524,00.html |archive-date=August 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |postscript=; |access-date=April 20, 2021 }} cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=548}}</ref> He lay in state in Harlem{{sfn|Robeson|1981|pp=236–237}} and his funeral was held at his brother Ben's former parish, Mother Zion AME Zion Church,{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=549}} where Bishop J. Clinton Hoggard performed the eulogy.<ref name="Eulogy">{{Cite web |last=Hoggard |first=Bishop J. Clinton |title=Eulogy |url=http://www.paulrobesonfoundation.org/eulogy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727170029/http://www.paulrobesonfoundation.org/eulogy.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |publisher=The Paul Robeson Foundation}}</ref> His 12&nbsp;pall bearers included [[Harry Belafonte]]{{sfn|Nollen|2010|p=187}} and [[Fritz Pollard]].{{sfn|Carroll|1998}} He was interred in the [[Ferncliff Cemetery]] in Hartsdale, New York.{{sfn|Nollen|2010|p=187}}

Biographer [[Martin Duberman]] said of news media notices upon Robeson's death:<blockquote>the "white [American] press ... ignored the continuing inability of white America to tolerate a black maverick who refused to bend, ... downplayed the racist component central to his persecution" [during his life, as they] "gingerly" [paid him] "respect and tipped their hat to him as a 'great American'," while the black American press, "which had never, overall, been as hostile to Robeson" [as the white American press had,] opined that his life "&thinsp;'...&nbsp;would always be a challenge to white and Black America.'&thinsp;"{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=549}}</blockquote>