NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (April 16, 2025) - Marking Paul Robeson Day on April 9, people from across New Brunswick spent time at the Paul Robeson Bench, sitting alongside the life-sized sculpture of the celebrated figure, at the corner of Handy Street and Paul Robeson Boulevard, bordering Feaster Park.

Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed legislation officially designating April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey.

New Brunswick holds significant connections to Robeson, who was born April 9, 1898, in Princeton. He was the third African-American student to enroll at Rutgers University, and while here, was a star pupil and athlete who graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1919. In the years that followed, Robeson went on to achieve great fame in music, acting, and culture. He was a champion for social justice and is a respected figure in contemporary American history.