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Peekskill 1949: When They Tried to Kill Paul Robeson's Concert
On September 4, 1949, 20,000 people showed up to hear the most famous Black man in America sing - and a mob tried to kill them for it.
This is the story of Paul Robeson at Peekskill. His concert was burned down on August 27th, he vowed to return September 4th, and this time he was protected by a human line of Black veterans, Jewish families, and union workers. Including a folk singer your playlist knows - Pete Seeger.
Library of Congress verified. This wasn't just a riot - it was the blueprint for "shut up and sing."
In this headliner episode:
Why Robeson was blacklisted before the Cold War…
The skinny
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