St. Louis native, scholar and activist Gerald Horne was recently honored in Paris, France on the occasion of the launching of the French translation of his 2016 biography “Paul Robeson: the Artist as Revolutionary.”
His two sisters, Malaika Horne and Gwen Moore, both still residing in St. Louis, joined him in Paris to support him and experience the profound appreciation Parisians have for Robeson’s influence on the world stage. They also lauded Gerald Horne’s intellectual heft and tireless work ethic in churning out so many important books covering African-American history.
Gerald Horne, who has written more than 30 books and 100 articles, is an endowed professor at the University of Houston, holding the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies. He was approached by the French publishing house, Otium, with the request for the translation for the Paris 2020 concert and festival paying tribute to Robeson. A group of women expatriates, many African Americans, called Sistah Circle Paris, also supported the festival.
Robeson – the noted African-American actor, singer and political radical who fell victim to the red scare of the 1950s – is widely regarded in France for his uncompromising fight against racism and social injustice and for his vocal advocacy of workers’ rights and international socialism.
During the week-long series of events throughout the region, held January 21-25, Horne gave several presentations on Robeson and his legacy, was interviewed on French radio and participated in multiple book signings. One was in the suburb of Ivry, renowned for its left-wing activism.
Horne also had a book signing at the Robeson concert at the Théâtre Romaine Rolland in the midst of a city-wide transportation strike. Union workers reportedly gave the concert a pass and publicly announced it would not be boycotted. More than one thousand attended. Eric Bibb, a well-known African American expat residing in Sweden, sang blues and played the guitar along with his trio and his Swedish wife, who also sang. Bibb is the godson of Robeson.
Horne’s powerfully written biography, “Paul Robeson: the Artist as Revolutionary,” argues that Robeson, who lived from 1898 to 1976, at the height of his fame was probably the “best known American in the world.” Celebrated as much for his left activism as his artistic and intellectual gifts, Robeson ran afoul of the House Un-American Activities Committee and cold warrior U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, resulting in the loss of his career and the muting of his voice.
Horne rescues Robeson’s legacy, maintaining that he deserves as much recognition and attention as his successors Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, Horne contends, one cannot truly understand the lives and trajectories of those two men without recognizing Robeson’s role in the history of the freedom struggle.
Horne, who was born and raised in the working-class communities of Mill Creek and North St. Louis, traces his own intellectual and political development and interests to those rich and nurturing black environments.
Both Malaika Horne and Gwen Moore were thrilled to visit Paris and be part of the flurry of activities recognizing Robeson and Gerald Horne’s work. They even snuck in some shopping and toured some of the city’s most iconic sites, including the Eiffel Tower.
Malaika said, “I’ve been to Paris several times, but this is the first time I had an insider view of the progressive elements of this very sophisticated and international city.” Gwen added, “We’re very proud of our brother. It was a trip of a lifetime.”
Malaika Horne is a director at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ College of Business Administration. Gwen Moore is a curator and historian at the Missouri History Museum.
