Paul Robeson, Spain, 1938 – “The artist cannot hold himself aloof”

An excerpt of Paul Robeson’s speech in support of anti-facist forces during the Spanish Civil War.

Transcript: Today, the artist cannot hold himself aloof. Through the destruction in certain countries of the greatest of human’s cultural heritage, through the propagation of false ideas of racial and national superiority – the scientist, the writer, the artist, is challenged. The challenge must be taken up. For this culture, a legacy from our predecessors, is the foundation upon which we build a higher and all-embracing culture. It belongs not only to us, not only to the present generation, it belongs to our posterity, and must be courageously defended.

The forces of reaction have made no distinction between combatants and noncombatants. The beautiful village of Guernica, nestled in the Basque hills, with its blood soaked streets, is proof enough of that. These victims must be given every possible aid. This, common humanity demands.