Paul Robeson, 1898-1976, Narrator/singer in Native Land, 1942. Paul Robeson, scholar, athlete, actor, singer, campaigner for human rights and for socialism, was for a time perhaps the most well known African-American man in the world. As a brilliant narrator working with Hurwitz and Strand, he delayed the completion of the film by rehearsing his narration for a month, until he felt it was perfect. His career in films, the theater and in international concert halls was cut short after government repression for his social activism led to his being blacklisted and to his being denied a US passport in the late 1940’s and 1950’s.