Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson had a majestic stage presence, whether in the theater or in film, at home or on the civil rights platform, and he had a rich, earthy bass voice that thrilled audiences like the rumble of Old Testament prophecy. He was the first African-American Othello of the 20th century. He played Joe in "Showboat" and made "Ol' Man River" into a sort of personal anthem. He revived the traditional black church spirituals when they were thought of as common, and he sang them in their pure simplicity as art songs.

The civil rights movement was full of dynamic and evocative images. Today, even many of us born after its iconic moments were captured on film can describe Martin Luther King Jr.'s outstretched arm pointing a sea of people toward a future decades beyond the short span of his life, or German shepherds in Birmingham ripping into black skin, as if we had watched these events live. But 50 years after the March on Washington, one local institution is helping audiences revisit this period in American history and examine details that were largely overlooked.

ONCE IN A while, I turn on my stereo, close my eyes and let the voice flow over me, so dark and rich I feel I can almost touch it. One critic once called it "the finest musical instrument wrought by Nature in our time." Another described it as "so nearly perfect as to be almost inhuman." Yet another praised the possessor of the voice as "the greatest natural basso of this generation."The voice belonged to Paul Robeson. If the young among us have no idea who he was, they should be forgiven.

The Columbia Pro Cantare will hold auditions for all parts in its 32nd season of concerts. Among the works to be performed are Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Brahms' Requiem, and a Tribute to Paul Robeson, with baritone Lester Lynch and the chorus. Auditions will be held at a private home in Harper's Choice. Rehearsals, to be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Hammond High School, begin Sept. 2. www.howardcountymd.gov/oa/50+expo.htm.

Paul Robeson(1898-1976)Robeson, the youngest son of an escaped slave, graduated from Rutgers University, later Columbia Law School and went on to be primarily an actor and a singer.Robeson was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for the loyalty to Russia that he had developed. It was during this period that he wrote "Here I Stand."In it he discusses how his political views came about. He also used the book to encourage blacks in continuing the Civil Rights Movement independently while being mindful of their heritage.

The Columbia Pro Cantare will hold auditions for all parts in its 32nd season of concerts. Among the works to be performed are Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Brahms' Requiem, and a Tribute to Paul Robeson, with baritone Lester Lynch and the chorus. Auditions will be held at a private home in Harper's Choice. Rehearsals, to be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Hammond High School, begin Sept. 2. www.howardcountymd.gov/oa/50+expo.htm.

Where: Coppin State CollegeWho: 20 boys and girls basketball teams from Baltimore, Washington, Pennsylvania and New York competing for three days and also participating in special seminars on Scholastic Assessment Test preparation and visits to area museums.Tickets: $8 per gameBoys scheduleThursday -- City vs. Douglass, 6 p.m.; Randallstown vs. Mervo, 9 p.m.Friday -- Strawberry Mansion (Pa.) vs. Southwestern, 3 p.m.; John Jay High (NY) vs. Walbrook, 4: 30 p.m.; Abraham Lincoln (NY) vs. Southern, 6 p.m.; Franklin Learning Center (Pa.)

Dogs' day If you've got a penchant for pooches, make your way to the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club Dog Match in Churchville this weekend. More than 200 dogs will compete in breed and obedience matches at the Churchville Recreation Center. Categories are hounds, sporting, working, non-sporting, terriers, toys and herding groups. Obedience matches will features classes ranging from pre-novice to advanced-utility. The breed matches run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and the obedience matches from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Churchville Recreation Center, Glenville Road and Route 155, Churchville.

Barbara W. Moffett, 71, a director of community relations for the American Friends Service Committee who helped the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. publish his "Letter from the Birmingham Jail," died Saturday in Philadelphia.Chaim Raphael, 86, scholar and thriller writer who wrote under the pen name Jocelyn Davey, died Monday in a London hospital. "The Undoubted Deed," "The Naked Villainy" and "The Road from Babylon" are among his best-known works.James Monks, 81, an actor who began his career on Broadway in the 1930s and later worked in movies and modeling, died of cancer Sunday at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City.

In a month marked by an unusual number of outstanding documentaries on aspects of African-American history, PBS' "Paul Robeson: Here I Stand" seems like a near-perfect grand finale.The "American Masters" documentary tells the story of a brilliant and horribly persecuted black man who comes closer, perhaps, than any other American of the century to fulfilling the definition of Renaissance Man.This is, as PBS claims, the first definitive biography of Robeson, and more's the shame on us as a culture that it took this long.

Dogs' day If you've got a penchant for pooches, make your way to the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club Dog Match in Churchville this weekend. More than 200 dogs will compete in breed and obedience matches at the Churchville Recreation Center. Categories are hounds, sporting, working, non-sporting, terriers, toys and herding groups. Obedience matches will features classes ranging from pre-novice to advanced-utility. The breed matches run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and the obedience matches from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Churchville Recreation Center, Glenville Road and Route 155, Churchville.

Paul Robeson had a majestic stage presence, whether in the theater or in film, at home or on the civil rights platform, and he had a rich, earthy bass voice that thrilled audiences like the rumble of Old Testament prophecy. He was the first African-American Othello of the 20th century. He played Joe in "Showboat" and made "Ol' Man River" into a sort of personal anthem. He revived the traditional black church spirituals when they were thought of as common, and he sang them in their pure simplicity as art songs.

Junior guard Melvin Scott scored a game-high 25 points, including four straight free throws in the final 1: 30, to help the Southern Bulldogs (7-3) defeat Newport Prep, 56-50, for their second win in two nights in the fourth annual Mayor's Academy Basketball Tournament at Coppin State. Scott's free throws broke a 46-46 tie and gave No. 6 Southern the lead for good. Scott, who scored 46 points in the two games, accepted tournament MVP honors from Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley. "Melvin is a tremendous player and tremendous human being," said Southern coach Meredith Smith of his 6-foot-2 junior.

Paul Robeson(1898-1976)Robeson, the youngest son of an escaped slave, graduated from Rutgers University, later Columbia Law School and went on to be primarily an actor and a singer.Robeson was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for the loyalty to Russia that he had developed. It was during this period that he wrote "Here I Stand."In it he discusses how his political views came about. He also used the book to encourage blacks in continuing the Civil Rights Movement independently while being mindful of their heritage.

In a month marked by an unusual number of outstanding documentaries on aspects of African-American history, PBS' "Paul Robeson: Here I Stand" seems like a near-perfect grand finale.The "American Masters" documentary tells the story of a brilliant and horribly persecuted black man who comes closer, perhaps, than any other American of the century to fulfilling the definition of Renaissance Man.This is, as PBS claims, the first definitive biography of Robeson, and more's the shame on us as a culture that it took this long.

Steve Yeager is starting production on "In Bad Taste," a follow-up to "Divine Trash," his award-winning documentary about the early career of John Waters. "In Bad Taste" will take up where "Divine Trash" left off, following Waters' career from "Pink Flamingos" through his new film, "Pecker.""We don't know if it's going to be 60 minutes or 90 minutes," Yeager said, "but it will air on Bravo and the Independent Film Channel starting in late January." "In Bad Taste" will follow "the same basic format as 'Divine Trash,' " according to Yeager.

When Lake Clifton swingman Michael King picked up his third foul late in the opening quarter of last night's game with Roman Catholic of Philadelphia, he couldn't help but wonder if he would be experiencing another nightmare at Coppin State.About a year ago on the same court, King ran into foul woes, and he and teammates had a dismal performance in a loss to Dunbar.But especially with No. 1 St. Frances on the horizon, King and No. 3 Lake Clifton weren't about to let down this time, pulling away for a 50-40 victory at the Mayor's Basketball Academy before an estimated crowd of 1,300 in the Coppin Center.

Denzel Washington doesn't matter.Spike Lee didn't make the cut.Danny Glover, Cicely Tyson, Eddie Murphy, Edward James Olmos, Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Ossie Davis, Paul Robeson -- nowhere to be found.After its contest to promote the first 100 years of filmmaking, The American Film Institute announced a list of the 100 greatest American movies. Newsweek is devoting a special issue to the results, which were broadcast Tuesday by CBS-TV.This roster of the "100 best I" reminds me a lot of the 1927 Yankees: undeniably filled with Hall of Fame entries, unquestionably deserving of such a lofty reputation -- and white.

Standing before a small gathering of reporters, high school administrators and students and television cameras on Monday, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke made a bold statement about the future of Baltimore City education."