[Photograph] Paul Robeson was trained as a lawyer. But because opportunities for African Americans in that profession were severely limited, he turned to the stage.

When Robeson appeared as the lead in The Emperor Jones in 1924, critics hailed him. Other triumphs soon followed, not least of which was his 1930 performance as Shakespeare's Othello. Robeson's rendition of "Ol' Man River" in Show Boat numbers among the unforgettable moments in the history of musicals.

Carl Van Vechten, who took this portrait, had encouraged Robeson to test himself as a singer shortly after his success in The Emperor Jones. .

Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

Photograph of Paul Robeson (1898-1976), 1933, by Carl Van Vechten (1880-1964), 1983 gelatin silver print

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