By Donald Gilpin

The Paul Robeson House of Princeton (PRHP) will not be opening its doors to the public next month, due to delays in raising the funds necessary for completing the restoration project, but the PRHP is carrying on its multifaceted cultural and educational programming as well as its fundraising campaign.

PRHP Board President Ben Colbert described the current status of the construction and renovation project that has been ongoing for more than 10 years. “We are in the final phase, but it is a major phase,” he said in a March 10 phone conversation. “The exterior of the building is 99 percent completed.” He noted that there is considerable interior work to be done, including installing of the electrical system.

Colbert went on to highlight the broad-based backing that the project has received so far. “We are very fortunate,” he said. “We have had tremendous support from the community. We have invested nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in renovations that we thought were going to cost a couple of thousand. We’ve completely rebuilt the entire structure from its foundations.”

Colbert cited contributions from the Mellon Foundation, the Princeton Area Community Foundation, and many other organizations and individuals in Princeton.

“We’re proud of what we have accomplished so far,” he added, and he stated that plans for raising additional funds and for cultural and educational programming are moving forward as the PRHP has “continued to keep Robeson’s name in the public eye.”

Among the various ongoing activities of the PRHP in honoring the Robeson legacy will be a celebration on Saturday, April 12 at the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) of the 127th anniversary of Paul Robeson’s birth, which took place in the house at 110 Witherspoon Street.

Presented in partnership with the Witherspoon Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the April 12 events, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include a wreath laying at the bust of Robeson in front of the ACP (also known as the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts), a presentation by the Alphas, a tour of the Robeson House, and coffee, pastries, and conversation.

In a recent letter to supporters, the PRHP Board of Directors emphasized how the Robeson legacy strengthens the community, especially in difficult times. “At the Paul Robeson House of Princeton, we’re committed to carrying forward Paul Robeson’s legacy as a beacon of strength, resilience, and inspiration for all,” they wrote.

Colbert pointed out a number of recent PRHP initiatives, particularly in developing relationships with Princeton schools and the Robeson Charter School in Trenton, both online and in person, as well as with the ACP and Morven Museum and Garden.

PRHP Program Committee Chair and Board Member Joy Barnes-Johnson described the Robeson Scholars and Fellows Program, which next month will be sending out its 2025 call for high school and college students who are looking to make a positive change in their communities. Through scholarship, artistry, and athleticism, the program is designed to inspire young people to extend the Robeson legacy of civic engagement into the 21st century.

Robeson Scholars are recognized annually with a monetary prize to support work they are doing in their field or community. Local recipients include Princeton High School seniors Sheena Ash and Asma Qureshi; Taylor-Faith McKie, a Fellow/Scholar in 2020; Jocelyn Brobbey, a 2021 Scholar; and Amanda Guadelupe, a 2024 Scholar Affiliate.

Guadelupe, a junior at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, will be conducting a workshop on Japanese Kintsugi pottery in honor of Paul Robeson’s artistry.

Barnes-Johnson also mentioned two Paul Robeson film screenings that will be taking place in April and May. On Wednesday, April 16, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Edison Public Library will present Native Land, a semidocumentary film narrated by Robeson that exposes violations of civil liberties and workers’ rights. Barnes-Johnson will lead the follow-up discussion.

On Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. the Garden Theatre in Princeton will be screening the silent film Borderline, which features Robeson and his wife Eslanda “entangled in a complex web of interracial relationships,” according to the PRHP website.

Colbert, who along with fellow Board Members Denyse Leslie and Shirley Satterfield, represented the PRHP at a recent New Jersey State Senate meeting, emphasized the importance of the Robeson legacy.

“We are very proud of our ability to draw attention to this very important American,” he said. “The theme of making Robeson a household name is a serious one, and one where we believe we have made some progress. This town and this community and this state are much more informed about the life and legacy of Paul Robeson.”

For further information and to contribute to the development campaign, visit ThePaulRobesonHouseofPrinceton.org.