Paul Robeson House
for the Study and Promotion of Human Rights and International Relations
124 Witherspoon Street  
Princeton, NJ 08542

Telephone: (609) 924-1666
Contact: Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Chair
E-mail: mpfk@princeton.edu

Organization Description and Mission

Paul Robeson House is being developed by the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, a historical African-American shrine founded in 1837, in collaboration with other Princeton institutions, community organizations, and houses of worship. PRH will be located at 108-110 Witherspoon Street, the home where Paul Robeson was born in 1898. His father, the Reverend William Drew Robeson was a former slave who served as the pastor of Witherspoon Church for more than two decades. One of the most powerful intellects of his time, Paul Robeson grew up to become an all American athlete, extraordinary actor and singer, and passionate advocate for human rights.  The goal of PRH is to create a community center consistent with Robeson’s life and ideals. PRH will promote dialogue and reconciliation among people of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds and support research and analysis relevant to human rights and constructive relations among nations. PRH will include the following components:

Memorial Gallery

Given the historical significance of the property where it is located, PRH will contain a permanent memorial to the life and contributions of Princeton’s most famous son, Paul Robeson. There is not a single location dedicated to the life journey of this remarkable man.  We hope to create a welcoming space the public can visit regularly and where educational activities surrounding the life and times of Paul Robeson will contribute to recover and affirm the historical significance of his vision for the future.

Center for the Study and Advancement of Human Rights

A man of great personal courage, Paul Robeson faced serious risks when expressing unpopular positions about international human rights that have since become standard practice. Robeson was ahead of his time. He often advanced his visionary perspective through the performance of exquisite songs and hymns. PRH will promote the study and dissemination of means to extend humanitarian treatment to vulnerable populations during times of peace and war. It would also recognize and reward achievement of individuals and institutions for outstanding achievement in those areas.

We will invite projects, students and scholars who are active in social services and the advancement of human potential. A principal activity will be to present the Paul Robeson Award to individuals, institutions or groups that demonstrate outstanding accomplishment for the betterment of humankind.   

Community Resource Center

In keeping with its role as a residential “safe house” the Center will be a resource available to the community at large and local residents. Space will be reserved for temporary and short term lodging for visiting scholars, guests, and families in transition. A series of educational seminars, meetings and other non commercial activities such as health screening, immigrant services, and job/ placement counseling will be incorporated into regular programs. 

We are especially sensitive to the needs of low-income African-American youngsters and first /second-generation immigrants who are often being left behind and find it hard to navigate the complexities of an affluent community, such as Princeton.  We seek to create hospitable spaces where young people and new residents can come to together to seek constructive ways to address issues of concern.

These collaborations and outreach activities will be through solid relations with the well known educational, philanthropic, corporations and religious institutions in Princeton. Several of them have already indicated interest in participating in the project.

Mentoring and Referral Services

Many residents in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood feel isolated and invisible. Surrounded by affluence, a good number of low-income families face problems that embarrass and exclude, including poverty, lack of linguistic skills to communicate with schools and other institutions, domestic violence, and alcoholism and drug addiction. Some residents are unable to obtain relevant information to protect their children from harm or to advance their educational and social aspirations.  In partnership with other organizations like the Arts Council, YWCA, YMCA, Clay Street Learning Center, Princeton Public Library and local faith communities, we will create channels to reach out to vulnerable families in our midst.

Community and Population Served by the Organization

PRH is located in Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, a residential area continuously affected by commercial interests and attempts at gentrification that threaten to displace working class families, most of whom are African American. Over the last decade the neighborhood has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala—many of them undocumented—renting rooms and apartments in the area. Young professionals and students have also moved in creating an atmosphere of rapid transformation. These demographic changes, in tandem with scarce resources, have exacerbated tensions and created new challenges.

Research Questions

• Robeson House is interested in students willing to conduct research on youth leadership patterns at Princeton High School and within the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Such research is needed for the creation of a partnership between PU undergraduates with a diverse group of high school students in the area whose purpose would be to encourage fellowship and solidarity.  Built around the sharing of musical and literary skills, the program would promote better understanding among individuals and groups and serve to stir interest in a college education among high school students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. 

• We would like to recruit individuals willing to investigate local service needs and existing providers, especially those relevant to youth groups, the elderly, and immigrants.

• Research is also needed towards the formation of a comprehensive data base with a focus on human rights and international relations. The data base would be used to tap resources relevant to the promotion of research in the two fields and the creation of a national and international network of scholars with expertise in the two areas.

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