To You Beloved Comrade

By Paul Robeson, reprinted in Northstar Compass, October 2003

There is no richer store of human experience than the folk tales, folk poems and songs of a people. In many, the heroes are always fully recognizable humans—only larger and more embracing in dimension. So it is with the Russian, Chinese and the Africa folk-lore.

In 1937, a highly expectant audience of Moscow citizens—workers, artists, youth, farmers, from surrounding towns—crowded into the Bolshoi Theatre. They awaited the performance by the Uzbek National Theater, headed by the highly gifted Tamara Khanum. The orchestra was a large one, with instruments both ancient and modern.

How exciting would be the blending of the music of the rich culture of composers Moussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Gliere, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Khrennikov, with that of the beautiful music of the Uzbeks, stemming from an old and proud civilization. Suddenly, everyone stood up, began to applaud, to cheer, to smile. The children waved. In a box to the right—smiling and applauding back to the audience—stood the great Stalin.

I remember that the tears began to flow and I too smiled and waved. Here was clearly a man who seemed to embrace all. So kindly—I can never forget that warm feeling of kindliness and also a feeling of sureness. Here was one who was wise and good—the world and especially the socialist world was fortunate indeed to have his daily guidance. I lifted high my son Pauli to wave to this world leader, and his leader. For Paul Jr. had entered school in Moscow, in the land of the Soviets.

The wonderful performance began, unfolding new delights at every turn-ensemble and individual, vocal and orchestral, classic and folk dancing of amazing originality. Could it be possible that a few years before in 1900–1915—these people had been semi-serfs—their cultural expression forbidden, their rich heritage almost lost under the Tsarist oppression’s heel?

So here one witnessed in the field of the arts—a culture, national in form, socialist in content. Here was a people, quite comparable to some tribal folk in Asia—quite comparable to the proud Yorubs or Basuto of West and East Africa, but now their lives flowering anew within the socialist way of life, twenty years matured under the guidance of Lenin and Stalin. And in this whole area of development of national minorities—of their relation to the Great Russians—Stalin has played and was playing a decisive role.

I was later to travel—to see with my own eyes what could happen to so-called backward peoples. In the West (in England, in Belgium, France, Portugal, Holland)—the Africans, the Indians (East and West), any of the Asian people were considered so backward that centuries, perhaps, would have to pass before these so-called modern so called “colonials” could become part of society.

But in the Soviet Union, Yakuts, Nenetses, Kirgiz, Tadzhiks—had respect and were helped to advance with unbelievable rapidity in this socialist land. No empty promises, such as colored folks continuously hear in the United States, but deeds. For example, the transforming of the desert in Uzbekistan into blooming acres of cotton. And an old friend of mine, Mr. Golden, trained under the Carver at Tuskegee, played a prominent role in cotton production. In 1949, I saw his daughter, now grown up and in the university—a proud Soviet citizen.

Today in Korea—in Southeast Asia—in Latin America and the West Indies, in the Middle East—in Africa, one sees tens of millions of long oppressed colonial peoples surging towards freedom. What courage—what sacrifice—what determination never to rest until victory! And arrayed against them, the combined powers of the so-called Free West, headed by the greedy, profit-hungry, war-minded industrialists and financial barons of our America. The illusion of an “American Century” blinds them for the immediate present to the clear fact that civilization has passed them by—that we now live in a people’s century—that the star shines brightly in the East of Europe and of the word.

Colonial peoples today look to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They see how under the great Stalin millions like themselves have found a new life. They see that aided and guided by the example of the Soviet Union, led by their Mao Tse-tung, a new China adds its mighty power to the true and expanding socialist way of life. They see former semi-colonial Eastern European nations building new People’s Democracies, based upon the people’s power, with the people shaping their own destinies. So much of this progress sterns from the magnificent leadership, theoretical and practical, given by their friend Joseph Stalin.

They have sung—sing now and will sing his praise—in song and story. Slava-Slava-Slava-Stalin, Glory to Stalin. Forever will his name be honored and beloved in all lands.

In all spheres of modern life the influence of Stalin reaches wide and deep. From his last and simply written but vastly discerning and comprehensive document, back through all of the years, his contributions to science of our world society remain invaluable. One reverently speaks of Marx, Engels Lenin and Stalin—the shapers of humanity’s richest present and future.

Yes, through his deep humanity, by his wise understanding, he leaves us a rich and monumental heritage. Most importantly—he has charted the direction of our present and future struggles. He has pointed the way to peace—to friendly co-existence—to the exchange of mutual scientific and cultural contributions—to the end if war ad destruction. How consistently, how patiently, he labored for peace and ever—increasing abundance, with that deep kindness and wisdom.

He leaves tens of millions all over the earth bowed in heart-aching grief.

But, as he well knew, the struggle continues. So, inspired by his noble example, let us lift our heads slowly but proudly high and march forward in the fight for peace—for a rich and rewarding life for all.

In the inspired words of Lewis Allan, our progressive lyricist-

To you our Beloved Comrade Stalin, we make this solemn vow:
The fight will go on—the fight will still go on.
Sleep well, Beloved Comrade, our work will just begin.
The fight will go on—till we win—until we win!