Editing Paul Robeson (section)

===1919–1923: Columbia Law School and marriage===
Robeson entered New York University School of Law in fall 1919.<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=43}}; cf. Boyle and Bunie; 78–82, {{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=107}}</ref> To support himself, he became an assistant football coach at [[Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)|Lincoln University]],<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=34}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=82}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=44}}, {{harvnb|Carroll|1998|pp=140–141}}</ref> where he joined the [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] fraternity.<ref>{{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=111}}; cf. {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=25}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=53}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=41}}</ref> However, Robeson felt uncomfortable at NYU{{sfn|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=82}} and moved to [[Harlem]] and transferred to Columbia Law School in February 1920.<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=43–44}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=82}}, {{harvnb|Brown|1997|pp=107–108}}</ref> Already known in the black community for his singing,<ref>{{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=143}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=45}}</ref> he was selected to perform at the dedication of the [[Harlem YWCA]].<ref>{{harvnb|Weisenfeld|1997|pp=161–162}}; cf. {{harvnb|Seton|1958|p= 2}}</ref>

Robeson began dating [[Eslanda Goode Robeson|Eslanda "Essie" Goode]]<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=34–35, 37–38}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=87–89}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=46–48}}</ref> and after her coaxing,{{sfn|Duberman|1989|p=43}} he made his theatrical debut as Simon in [[Ridgely Torrence]]'s ''[[Simon of Cyrene|Simon the Cyrenian]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Peterson|1997|p=93}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=48–49}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=89, 104}}, {{cite news |title=Who's Who |id={{ProQuest|103384313}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/05/11/archives/whos-who.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 11, 1924 |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106204105/https://www.nytimes.com/1924/05/11/archives/whos-who.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After a year of courtship, they were married in August 1921.<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=50–52}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=39–41}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=88–89, 94}}, {{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=119}}</ref>

Robeson was recruited by Fritz Pollard to play for the NFL's [[Akron Pros]] while he continued his law studies.<ref>{{harvnb|Levy|2003|p=30}}; cf. [http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-12-119.pdf Akron Pros 1920 by Bob Carrol] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311103636/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-12-119.pdf|date=March 11, 2012}}, {{harvnb|Carroll|1998|pp=147–148}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=53}}</ref> In the spring of 1922, Robeson postponed school{{sfn|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=104–105}} to portray Jim in [[Mary Hoyt Wiborg]]'s play ''[[Taboo (1922 play)|Taboo]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Darnton|title='Taboo' Casts Voodoo Spell|date=April 5, 1922|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1922-04-05/ed-1/seq-24/|work=[[The Evening World]]|page=24|access-date=November 9, 2011|archive-date=May 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525172509/http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1922-04-05/ed-1/seq-24/|url-status=live}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=100–105}}, [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1922-04-05/ed-1/seq-10/;words=Paul+Robeson?date1=1836&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=paul+robeson&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2&index=1 Review of ''Taboo''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728044553/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1922-04-05/ed-1/seq-10/?date1=1836&index=1&date2=1922&searchType=basic&state=&rows=20&proxtext=paul+robeson&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |date=July 28, 2020 }}{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=43}}</ref> He then sang in the chorus of an [[Off-Broadway]] production of ''[[Shuffle Along]]''<ref>{{harvnb|Wintz|2007|pp=6–8}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=44–45}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=57–59}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=98–100}}</ref> before he joined ''Taboo'' in Britain.<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=44–45}}; cf. {{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=120}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=57–59}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=100–101}}</ref> The play was adapted by [[Mrs Patrick Campbell]] to highlight his singing.<ref>{{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=105–107}}; cf. {{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=120}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=47–48, 50}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=59, 63–64}}</ref> After the play's run ended, he befriended [[Lawrence Benjamin Brown]],<ref>{{harvnb|Brown|1997|pp=120–121}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=105–106}}</ref> a classically trained musician,{{sfn|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=139}} before returning to Columbia while playing for the NFL's [[Milwaukee Badgers]].<ref>{{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=108–109}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=68–69}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=34, 51}}, {{harvnb|Carroll|1998|pp=151–152}}</ref> He ended his football career after the 1922 season,<ref>{{harvnb|Levy|2003|pp=31–32}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=111}}</ref> and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1923.<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=54–55}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=111–113}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=71}}, {{harvnb|Brown|1997|p=122}}</ref>