Editing Paul Robeson (section)

====Australia and New Zealand====
In October&nbsp;1960, Robeson embarked on a two-month concert tour of Australia and New Zealand with Essie, primarily to generate money,{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=487–491}} at the behest of Australian politician [[Bill Morrow (Australian politician)|Bill Morrow]].{{sfn|Curthoys|2010|p= 171}} While in Sydney, he became the first major artist to perform at the construction site of the future [[Sydney Opera House]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/intothemusic/paul-robeson/4691690 |title=Paul Robeson: The singer who fought for justice and paid with his life |last=Steinke |first=Nicole |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230204325/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/intothemusic/paul-robeson/4691690 |url-status=live }}</ref> After appearing at the [[Brisbane Festival Hall]], they went to Auckland where Robeson reaffirmed his support of [[Marxism-Leninism]],{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=489}} denounced the inequality faced by the [[Māori people|Māori]] and efforts to denigrate their culture.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|p=168}}; {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=489}}</ref> Thereabouts, Robeson publicly stated "...&nbsp;the people of the lands of Socialism want peace dearly".<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|1978a|pp= 470–471}}.<!-- "The People Must, If Necessary, Impose the Peace" -- I'm guessing a pamphlet put out by the Peace Conference which was based in Sydney, Australia. --></ref>

During the tour he was introduced to [[Faith Bandler]] and other activists who aroused the Robesons' concern for the plight of the [[Australian Aborigines|Aboriginal Australians]].<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=164, 173–175}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=490}}</ref> Robeson subsequently demanded that the Australian government provide them with full citizenship and equal rights.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=175–177}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989}}</ref> He attacked the view that they were unsophisticated and uncultured, and declared that "there's no such thing as a ''backward'' human being, there is only a society which says they are backward."<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989}}</ref>

Robeson left Australia as a respected, albeit controversial, figure and his support for Aboriginal rights had a profound effect in Australia over the next decade.<ref>{{harvnb|Curthoys|2010|pp=178–180}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=491}}</ref>