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The Collision Between Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson

Howard Bryant joins Edge of Sports to talk about his new book, Kings and Pawns

Dave Zirin

Today 10:04 am

Paul Robeson, 1958. (Ronald Dumont / Daily Express / Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

The Collision between Paul Robeson & Jackie Robinson
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we talk to author Howard Bryant, whose towering new book is called Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. It's an incredible look at these two trailblazing giants of the 20th century, how they navigated the racism of their day, and the ways both their lives were irrevocably changed by Jackie Robinson's 1949 testimony "condemning" Robeson at the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing. 

Zirin, Get Ready for This Year’s Undemocratic, Debt-Ridden, and Mobster-Infused Winter Olympics   

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/2026-winter-olympics-ice-debt/

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we talk to author Howard Bryant, whose towering new book is called Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. It’s an incredible look at these two trailblazing giants of the 20th century, how they navigated the racism of their day, and the ways both their lives were irrevocably changed by Jackie Robinson’s 1949 testimony “condemning” Robeson at the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing.

Zirin’s latest: Get Ready for This Year’s Undemocratic, Debt-Ridden, and Mobster-Infused Winter Olympics

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

The Collision between Paul Robeson & Jackie Robinson
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we talk to author Howard Bryant, whose towering new book is called Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. It's an incredible look at these two trailblazing giants of the 20th century, how they navigated the racism of their day, and the ways both their lives were irrevocably changed by Jackie Robinson's 1949 testimony "condemning" Robeson at the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing. 

Zirin, Get Ready for This Year’s Undemocratic, Debt-Ridden, and Mobster-Infused Winter Olympics   

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/2026-winter-olympics-ice-debt/

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave ZirinDave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.


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