The focus of this article is Paul Robeson’s creative ideal (aesthetic). Though there is much literature that discusses the creative accomplishments and social activism of Robeson, with much agreement on his importance to the Africana intellectual history, a comprehensive discussion on his creative ideal, that is, his conception of beauty, creativity, and expression, has yet to emerge in the current literature. The absence of such a discussion represents a missing area of research. Robeson shared a wealth of creative insight and values that would provide an Afrocentric point of departure and heuristic resource of concepts for the Africana scholar. With an interest in using the African intellectual heritage as a resource, the main objective of this research is to cull ideal creative themes and values from the writings and interviews of Robeson that render a portrait of his creative-intellectual thought. This article will not only discuss the finding of Robeson’s creative insights but also suggest that a Robesonian framework of creative themes, insights, and categories might be on the horizon.
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