Peekskill Outrage - Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Paul Robeson

[ParisLondonRoma]

The communists used Robeson. He died a broken and used man.

[pushelildaisies]

As a white person, I cannot express how disgusted it makes me to see other white people yelling and espousing those terrible things. Racism and bigotry of any kind has no place in our world - all of us, no matter the color, should make our goal peace, and only peace.

[The3in1trinity]

In the days when segregation was the norm, it was needed that ppl such as Paul Robeson spoke out against the blatant racism of the times. God Bless ALL (BLACK + WHITE) who fought against racial bigotry + intolerance!!! Loved his voice...

[rdsanchez1966]

Tea Party circa 1949.

[BrickLaneBetty]

Ok, you have been proved WRONG. Daily Express was owned by Lord Beaverbrook who hated Robeson and misquoted and embellished him all the time. Daily Express was a hideous right wing rag. The footnotes of Duberman has that quote exposed as fake. Look it up!

Great channel otherwise.

[Kat4025]

This is Sidney Poitier narrating, not Harry Belafonte. WOW, to get that wrong, geez!

[MSnormanify]

Unfortunately there is still plenty of bigotry in the good old USA

[utube9000]

The anti-communists who showed up at this concert to protest the communists are no different than the anti-Nazis today who show up at Nazi events to protest the Nazis.

It's the same damn thing. One totalitarian ideology battling another.

[jckchrstphr]

Notice the sign @1;22? "Stanley Tucci & Son"

[permproductions]

Banjostead:

We are in post-production and would like to get parts of this video in our film. Please contact me as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Connie

[banjostead]

@permproductions

Write to me at (joe@joestead.com) with more details and an address please.

[vmt1]

The violence that occurred in Peakskill after the concert wasn't aimed only at blacks, it was aimed at ANYONE the locals saw as threats. Pete Seeger, a white native New Englander, had his car practically destroyed and his own children almost njured. It wasn't just about racism - it was about ignorant fear.

[zeo1182]

we all live ...we all breath... we all yearn to fulfill a greater purpose . we are not able to understand each others words or god or nature . and yet refuse to see it in any other way ... to embrace a greater love and a higher understanding ... to breath together and love one another ...to finally live without fear shadowing so many with ignorance . unite our ideas of love and harmony and start a new world .... peace .....

[ConversionMaster]

You have to listen to what Robeson said...he didn't say that whites were the lowest form of civilization but that the culture that white Americans subscribed to in those days was evil and low. He was attacking the culture and philosophy not white people.

Most white Americans don't know what its like to live in an America where every bloody place you go you might be killed... I'm old enough to remember some of those days...no way for a human being to have to live.

[xxnoangelxx]

If you were black in 1949; yes white folks were evil. Maybe you have short term memory lost? The police pulled back and let the white citizens have their way. It was really disgusting to see. The taste for blood was dripping from their teeth. How awful, how scary, how real. Night of the Living Dead! Romero had it right.

[vivascargill]

i won't argue--my white parents were at that concert--after this outrage she was never in good health--the riots spread from peekskill almost to our door step!

[shardanette1]

Fascinating arcana.

At 1:20, you can see a "Stanley Tucci & Son" sign. That is probably the store of the actor Stanley Tucci's grandfather. Tucci was born in Peekskill in 1960.

I wonder if he has ever seen this?

[rrforc]

The site of the concert and protest is now a Upper middle class suburan housing development. Houses start at $460,000 and up

[sjf89]

im from peekskill. tryin to figure out where exactly this is. wut development r u refering to?

[TheArsenalgooner]

Banjostead: You misquote Robeson in your description. He meant RACIST JIM CROW AMERICA> He loved all peoples and loved European and white American culture.

[banjostead]

I'm sorry old chap - but in 1932 Robeson told the Daily Express in London during an interview (and I quote) The Modern White American is a member of the lowest form of civilisation in the world today. And as much as it is nice to get an intelligent comment from an Arsenal fan (I support Charlton for my sins) you cannot change history - or what he said.

[vivascargill]

odd his many white friends would be surprized

[vivascargill]

I can disprove this but it would mean intruding on Brother Paul's personal life. On the other hand white America is guilty of sins of Nazi magnitude. but you might want to look up Clyde Johnson. But 1930's America has been called "The American Congo" and that is true

[vivascargill]

@banjostead sorry I can disprove this but not on u tube!! Remember Sam and Helen Rosen kissing him when he died

[BrickLaneBetty]

@banjostead He said the white power structure. I'm a Robeson scholar. Her did NOT hate white people! show me the link or proof. Cheers.

[BrickLaneBetty]

@banjostead I think you need to read more about Robeson. Which books have you read? daily Express is a RAG! Always has been!

[vivascargill1]

@banjostead as I wrote earlier I can disprove this but it would mean disclosing information I have no right to disclose

[victrolaman]

Was Robeson's all American Status for his Football achievements ever reinstated? Just Curious.

[BrickLaneBetty]

Yes, in 1994!

[NHDPETESEEGER2009]

Could you tell us where this is from?

Thanks.

[BrickLaneBetty]

Tribute to an Artist Oscar winner 1980

[jobedied]

Very sad what a man Robeson is he will never be forgotten.

And his music resonates in the human soul. What mean fearful racists we were God it saddens one.

[AnnaPaidoussi]

my mom was there as well.... as concert go-er (not hoodlum demonstrator)

paul robeson was an angel on earth.......and you know what we usually do to them!

may his memory be eternal.

[Tenderness6]

Dear Anna,

I totally agree with you; Paul was an angel here on Earth but by ignorant people ignored. Paul is still in my Heart and will remain there forever.

[vivascargill]

@Tenderness6 hello my parents were there--my mother was hit--

[Tenderness6]

@vivascargill It's heartbraking to hear that your mother was hit. I wish you and your family well.

Friedrich from Holland aka Tenderness

[vivascargill]

@Tenderness6 thank you--I have mentioned this elsewhere but my mom had an anutoimmune disease--this reactvated it. Her health was never good. She was in the same hospital as Paul as he was dying and she tried to crawl out of bed to see him--but he only was seeing a few people.Both Mom and Dad have died--I appreciate your note very much--we have not have much luck!! Thank you again

[Tenderness6]

@vivascargill I sincerely hope that you and your family will have more luck in the near future.

[BrickLaneBetty]

There are VERY CLEAR photos of a state trooper and a good ole racist man kicking and beating WW1 veteran Eugene Ballard on the ground. Stupid fascists weren't even given a slap on a wrist. Walter Winchell, DA Fanelli and Dewey are the UnAmeriacns and the human refuse-THEY should have been deported to Malan's South Africa where they would feel at home or perhaps to Bolivia with their Nazi friends.

[BrickLaneBetty]

Gee , leave it racist whites to make the USSR look so much better. I'd have been supporting the USSR too if I had to endure these anti-semetic, racist American Legion/corrupt police barbarians even once. Just foul.

[grummeper]

LONG LIVE PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ONEamWALKAH]

WTF this area is so different now, compared to this. For one Peekskill is very diverse now and secondly, i read this actually happened in Cortlandt. Granted they border each other but still.

[tessamovies]

I was under the impression most Americans claim to be Christian. If supremacy77's remark is typical of American opinion, I'm proud to say I'm an atheist. The events in the film clip are scandalous and it would be nice (if more than a little unrealistic) to think things have changed for the better since then.

[Leck27]

oh c'mon people. That's what America's all about.

White, racist, violent and stupid.

Of course, they only behave like this when in grat number, and with the guns on their side.

The only diference between 1949 and 2006, it's that now they harass arabs.

But hey! How will they be selling guns to buy hamburgers and watch Britney Spears? They got to pick a fight with someone!

No pint discussing this. Those people are the grandfathers of the america's finest!

[bigtim1955]

If supremacy77 thinks Paul Robeson was a stupid knuckledragger, he must be a few cards short of a full pack!

Robeson was an amazing entertainer who did so much for the sake of liberty, freedom and human rights. Yes supremacy, he would have even defended your right to express your opinion, no matter how much he would have disagrred with him

[prolaser]

All's well that ends well, all those racist's are now in hell for eternity

"the modern white American was(still is) amongst the lowest form of civilization in the world. "

[supremecy77]

FUCK PAUL ROBESON "the modern white American was amongst the lowest form of civilization in the world. "

THAT STUPID FUCKING KNUCKLEDRAGGER

[folkchick100]

IQ81 (Hertzog) is really coming true down there in the American boondocks isn't it?

I presume you voted for George Bush Supremecy77? God help the rest of the world if this is the best the US can breed.

[BrickLaneBetty]

haha go back to your Skinhead meetings!