While he attended Columbia Law School, would play professional football on the weekends to pay for college, but his interest soon turned to a professional career.
The harshness of racism finally stopped his academic progress when a stenographer in a New York law firm where Robeson worked refused to take dictation from a “nigger."
This prompted him to abandon the law career and seek a new career on stage. His stage career skyrocketed with his performances in "The Emperor Jones" and "All God’s Chillin Got Wings."
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Due to production delays, his appearance in Showboat on Broadway in New York was cancelled. Instead he traveled to London to perform the musical and his popular rendition of “Ole Man River."
The original lyrics “I’m tired of living and feared of dying” were changed by Robeson to “I must keep fighting until I’m dying,” in essence making the song an inspiration in the African American community.
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In 1930, Robeson performed the title role in Shakespeare’s “Othello,” which earned him a Donaldson Award for Outstanding Lead Male Performance.
His film roles began to increase, as he made a film version of "The Emperor Jones" and "King Solomon’s Mines," before his influential trip to Switzerland to make the film "Borderline."
Robeson decided to stay in Europe to escape the racism and discrimination he faced at home, while changing his political beliefs into controversial views.
