Roland, Howard Bryant talk "Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America"

Paul Robeson, a multi-talented Renaissance man (singer, athlete, lawyer, actor, activist), was a globally renowned figure and arguably the most prominent Black voice in America during his time. Despite his immense stature, he was systematically 'written out' of American and Black history due to his unabashed progressive, anti-capitalist, and pro-Communist views, which were deemed a threat during the Cold War. This erasure was a 'massive campaign' rather than an accidental oversight, aimed at silencing his influential voice.

The host notes the amazement at how many people 'have no clue how huge Paul Robeson was' and how his name is 'rarely ever mentioned' (0:51). Bryant confirms that 'a lot' of Black people he spoke to while writing the book had not heard of Robeson (2:07). He states, 'You can't erase somebody like that by accident. Time didn't just erase him... It was intentional' (6:51).

Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson, two titanic Black American figures, were placed in opposition to each other by external forces, notably when Robinson testified against Robeson in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1949. This was a strategic move by those in power, including Branch Rickey, to use Robinson's emerging influence to counter Robeson's radical voice, despite the two men never having met.

Bryant expresses his embarrassment at having 'kept it moving' past the fact that 'Jackie Robinson testified against Paul Robeson' (3:11). He explains that to 'counter' Robeson's 'number one black voice in America,' they 'go to baseball. You go to Jackie Robinson' (9:43). Roland Martin notes the incredibility that 'those two never met' (1:04:57).

Branch Rickey, often celebrated as a progressive ally for integrating baseball, had complex and self-serving motives. His initial intention was not to challenge American segregation directly; he spent considerable money scouting Latino players in other countries, hoping to integrate baseball without upsetting the racial status quo in the U.S. He only turned to American Black players like Jackie Robinson when he realized they were the best talent available. Rickey also used Robinson to undermine Paul Robeson, aligning with right-wing elements.

Bryant states, 'Branch Rickey had no intention of integrating. He hated black baseball... He did not believe that black players were the best minorities to integrate' (25:32). He 'spent $25,000 scouring Mexico and Venezuela in Cuba in the Dominican Republic looking for the right player to integrate' (26:00) because 'he had no intention of upsetting American segregation' (26:17). He concludes, 'If Branch Rickey had had his way, he would have left American segregation just the way it was' (27:09).

During the Cold War, Black leadership, including organizations like the NAACP and the Urban League, strategically decoupled from Pan-African and anti-colonial movements and distanced themselves from figures like Paul Robeson. This was a calculated move to avoid being labeled 'anti-American' or 'communist,' which would jeopardize their efforts to achieve civil rights gains within the United States. This created a political battle over the proper tactics for Black liberation.

Bryant explains that 'black leadership in the United States really did decouple from those movements because they didn't want to be called anti-American' (12:32). He notes the dilemma: 'We need the military to be desegregated. We need civil rights to move forward... And we're not going to get them... if we align ourselves with Robeson' (31:11).

Institutions, particularly in America, often prioritize 'comfort' and maintaining the racial status quo over 'merit.' This is evident in how baseball owners feared Black players and fans would financially ruin the sport, not because of lack of talent, but because their presence would drive away white fans. This pattern extends to other areas like housing and corporate diversity initiatives, where financial gain is foregone to preserve whiteness or existing power structures.

Bryant states, 'They were convinced that Jackie was going to destroy baseball, not because he couldn't play, but because he could' (39:54). He adds, 'black fans were going to come to the game. And if black fans brought their black money to the sport, white fans wouldn't want to sit next to them' (40:13). Roland Martin reinforces, 'there are numerous examples where they will forego more green to maintain whiteness' (42:33). Bryant concludes, 'We spend a lot of our time trying to prove merit, they hire for comfort. We talk about merit. They talk about comfort' (43:46).