For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008

Paul Robeson to be the Subject of
West Oakland Library Exhibit

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(Oakland, CA)—The West Oakland Library will host a month-long inspirational display, Paul Robeson, 110 Years of Greatness, from April 1 through May 3, 2008. The exhibit, sponsored by the Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee, commemorates the 110th anniversary of Robeson’s birth with materials that reflect upon the man’s extraordinary achievements.

Robeson left a profound mark in a remarkably diverse range of fields, including academics, athletics, music, and acting. The exhibit at the library will also focus on Robeson’s political development, his principles, and his activism, and makes the case that Robeson’s message remains fresh and relevant today. Ultimately, the exhibit promotes Robeson as the quintessential role model for the youth of this and coming generations.

The Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee (BAPRCC) was formed in 1997 to celebrate the April 9, 1998 centennial of the birth of Paul Robeson, to gain broad public recognition of the life, career, and legacy of the 20th century’s greatest Renaissance man, and to help restore him to his rightful place in American and world history.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Educators are encouraged to bring their students. The West Oakland Branch is located at 1801 Adeline Street. The library’s hours are Monday 11:30 AM – 7 PM; Tuesday – Thursday 10 AM – 5:30 PM; Friday 12 noon – 5:30 PM; and Saturday 10 AM – 5:30 PM. For information call the library at (510) 238-7352, or visit the Oakland Public Library’s Website at www.oaklandlibrary.org. See also the BAPRCC Website at www.bayarearobeson.org. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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