Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (center) displays a facsimile sign along with Vernoca L. Michael (left), former executive director of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House and Museum; Janice Sykes-Ross (right), executive director, and former Councilmember Jannie Blackwell (far right).

The draping came down on a new street sign at the corner of 50th and Walnut Streets Friday morning as the 4900 block of Walnut Street became “Paul L. Robeson Way.”

Dozens of local officials, including Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, neighbors and supporters of the Paul Robeson House and Museum were on hand for the street-renaming ceremony near 4951 Walnut, where Robeson lived with his sister Marian Forsythe for the last 10 years of his life. He died in 1976.

“Paul Robeson became one of the most devoted fighters at home and abroad,” said Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, who introduced resolutions in City Council renaming the block and designating April 9 as “Paul Robeson Day.” “He did this during a time when racists regularly lynched people who looked like him for speaking out against injustice.”

The ceremony was part of the Robeson House’s 125th birthday celebration of his birth in 1898. It also included the acknowledgment of a stained-glass window on the door of the house. The window was created by Los Angeles artist Ramsess, who drove the window cross-country from California and installed it. The festivities also included a block party – with WURD Radio broadcasting live, Spiral Q creating and distributing free prints of the Robeson House’s 125th logo as well as numerous vendors and entertainment.

(Report and photos by Sherry L. Howard)

Tiffany A. Wilson, chief of staff for State Sen. Vincent Hughes, eyes prints created by Spiral Q and distributed free. The prints bear the logo of the 125th celebration of Paul Robeson’s birthday by the Paul Robeson House and Museum.

Dignitaries and board members of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House and Museum flank a portrait of Robeson at the street renaming ceremony and block party.

Artist Ramsess of Los Angeles created the stained-glass image of Paul Robeson that has been installed on the front door of the Paul Robeson House and Museum, 4951 Walnut Street (see below). He is an admirer of Robeson’s.

The stained-glass window on the front door of the Paul Robeson House and Museum.