Charlotta Bass and Paul Robeson: Allies in Justice on the West Coast

Charlotta Bass and Paul Robeson were two titans in the fight for civil rights and social justice in the United States. While Bass is often remembered as the trailblazing editor and publisher of The California Eagle, the oldest Black newspaper on the West Coast, Robeson is widely known as an accomplished singer, actor, and outspoken activist. The relationship between these two figures blossomed as their shared commitment to Black liberation, workers’ rights, and anti-fascism led them to collaborate on several fronts. Their connection, though shaped by their respective platforms—media for Bass and the arts for Robeson—demonstrated how powerful partnerships could drive change, particularly in Los Angeles and across the West Coast.

Charlotta Bass: A Champion of the Press

Charlotta Bass spent decades shaping the discourse on civil rights in California and beyond through her stewardship of The California Eagle, a platform that tackled issues from housing discrimination to police brutality. Her newspaper was known for its uncompromising stance on racial justice and served as a voice for the Black community in Los Angeles when other media outlets refused to acknowledge the challenges faced by African Americans.

Her leadership in the Black press made her a significant figure in social justice movements, which naturally led her to cross paths with Paul Robeson. Bass was not just a journalist; she was a civil rights activist who used her platform to amplify voices like Robeson’s and to push back against the structural racism that both she and Robeson experienced. In the 1940s, their relationship strengthened as they shared a deep belief that the fight for civil rights was inextricably linked to the struggle for workers’ rights and global anti-colonial movements.

Paul Robeson’s Legacy on the West Coast

Paul Robeson was not just a world-renowned entertainer; he was a forceful advocate for human rights, deeply connected to labor movements and anti-colonial struggles. His work on the West Coast, particularly in California, aligned closely with the progressive politics that Bass championed in her newspaper.

Robeson found a welcoming and politically engaged audience in Los Angeles, particularly within the Black community. As early as the 1930s, Robeson made a name for himself in Southern California, performing at major venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and using these opportunities to advocate for social justice. His art and activism were inseparable. Whether he was performing songs from the American spiritual tradition or his famous renditions of “Ol’ Man River,” Robeson was always using his platform to speak out against injustice.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Robeson’s activism became more politically radical as he embraced socialism and expressed staunch opposition to American imperialism and racism. His pro-labor stance, exemplified by his support for farmworkers’ rights and his criticism of American capitalism, resonated deeply on the West Coast, where labor unions were growing in power and influence. Robeson spoke out against the exploitation of workers, particularly Black and Latino laborers, and condemned the ways in which racial oppression and economic exploitation were intertwined.

Bass and Robeson’s Shared Advocacy for Workers

Charlotta Bass’s The California Eagle had long been a champion for workers’ rights, especially in the Los Angeles area, which was seeing an influx of Black workers during the Great Migration. As a result, the newspaper became a hub for organizing and advocacy, covering labor strikes and campaigns for better working conditions. Bass and Robeson both understood that the fight for civil rights could not be separated from the fight for economic justice. They used their respective platforms to call attention to these issues and to support union efforts, such as those of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which had a strong presence on the West Coast.

Robeson’s relationship with labor organizations, particularly in California, further solidified his connection with Bass. In 1942, Robeson was famously involved in efforts to support striking shipyard workers in Oakland and San Francisco, standing in solidarity with the ILWU and calling out the racist practices that kept Black and immigrant workers in the lowest-paying jobs. Bass, who had long used her newspaper to advocate for fair employment practices, saw in Robeson an ally who was unafraid to use his celebrity status to call attention to systemic oppression.

The Anti-Colonial and Anti-Fascist Struggle

Both Bass and Robeson viewed their fight for civil rights as part of a larger, global struggle against colonialism and fascism. This internationalist perspective was particularly evident during World War II and the early Cold War years, when both figures found themselves increasingly targeted for their leftist views. Bass, who had used The California Eagle to critique fascist regimes abroad and racist policies at home, found a kindred spirit in Robeson, whose politics were increasingly focused on the global fight against imperialism.

Robeson’s advocacy for decolonization, especially in Africa and the Caribbean, mirrored Bass’s own calls for global solidarity among oppressed peoples. Robeson had become an outspoken critic of European colonial powers and U.S. foreign policy, aligning himself with anti-colonial leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta. Bass, who frequently used her newspaper to highlight the struggles of Black and Indigenous peoples around the world, found Robeson’s internationalist stance deeply resonant. Both understood that the fight for Black liberation in the U.S. was part of a broader global struggle for freedom.

The Red Scare and Targeted Repression

As their advocacy for workers’ rights, racial equality, and anti-colonialism intensified, both Bass and Robeson became targets of state repression. The onset of the Cold War and the rise of McCarthyism led to widespread suspicion and persecution of leftists, socialists, and communists, with Robeson and Bass falling into this category due to their outspoken activism.

Robeson was blacklisted and had his passport revoked by the U.S. government after he refused to denounce his pro-Soviet sympathies, which made it difficult for him to continue his international advocacy. Bass, too, faced significant challenges as her paper came under increasing scrutiny. In 1950, she ran for Vice President of the United States on the Progressive Party ticket, further cementing her radical politics in the eyes of the government. She and Robeson were both surveilled and harassed by the FBI, labeled as subversives due to their political beliefs.

Despite these challenges, Bass and Robeson never wavered in their commitment to justice. They both saw the fight for civil rights not only as a moral imperative but as a lifelong struggle that required solidarity across racial, national, and ideological lines.

A Lasting Legacy

The relationship between Charlotta Bass and Paul Robeson highlights how interconnected the Black freedom struggle was with other movements for justice, including labor rights and anti-colonial efforts. On the West Coast, their collaboration and mutual support symbolized a broader coalition of activists, artists, and laborers who believed that liberation could only be achieved through collective action. Robeson’s artistry and Bass’s journalism complemented one another, creating a powerful force that inspired generations to continue the fight for equality.