When you hear the name Paul Robeson, the word polymath may come to mind. He was extraordinary as an athlete, actor, singer, cultural scholar, writer, and political activist. Above all, he was a man of deep humanity.
The Paul Robeson Award honors individuals and institutions who leverage theatre to go beyond the stage to enact their commitment to the freedom of expression and conscience, their belief in the artist’s responsibility to society, and their dedication to the betterment of humankind.
Fittingly, playwright, author, poet, and activist Pearl Cleage will receive the 2022 Paul Robeson Award in a ceremony on August 28. She’s a Distinguished Artist in residence at the Alliance Theatre and also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild of America.
In this interview, “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes speaks with Pearl Cleage about the prestigious honor.
“For me as a citizen artist, the more people tell me not to talk and not to talk loudly, the louder I’m going to talk, and that’s the Paul Robeson influence,” Cleage reflected.
