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one, denied equal protection of the law, and deprived of their rightful place in the respect of their fellows.

"Not through blind faith or coercion, but conscious of my course, I take my place with you. I stand with you in unalterable support of the Government of Spain, duly and regularly chosen by its lawful sons and daughters.

"...'the liberation of Spain from the oppression of Fascist reactionaries is not a private matter of the Spaniards, but the common cause of all advanced and progressive Humanity.'"

* * * * *

While travelling in Spain with Paul Robeson during the Christmas/New Year's holidays of 1937, Mrs. Eslanda Goode Robeson refers in her diary to the joy felt by Paul Robeson in meeting with Black American veterans and she says:

"As our car came to a standstill I noticed a young Negro soldier. He saw Paul and stopped dead and stared. When he got out of the car, he gazed, astonished, and Paul went up and spoke to him. He said he recognized Paul at once but simply could not believe his eyes.

"Many English and American soldiers, white, immediately surrounded Paul and began talking all at once. They, too were astonished, all had read about him, and many had seen his films.

"Then another Negro joined us. His name was Gibbs and he comes from Chicago. Also young, rather Indian cheek bones--Quite serious--he too knew Paul and knew about him and was astonished to see him here. Still another young Negro, Clark Bringle of Bellair, Ohio, joined us. He had been wounded at Teruel by a bullet from the tower of the church...He showed us the bullet which had been taken out of the wound--steel, bright, wicked-looking--about an inch and a half long.

"In Tarazona we saw lots of Negro comrades, Andrew Mitchell of Oklahoma, Oliver Law of Baltimore, Frank Warfield of St. Louis. All were thrilled to see us and talked at length with Paul.

"A meeting was arranged for us in the church by the officers. The entire Brigade gathered at 2:30 p.m. packing the church. But before they piled in they passed in review in the square for us saluting us with Salud! as they passed."

At the 36th Annual Anniversary Dinner of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion in 1973, Paul Robeson was honored with a plaque on his 75th birthday.

The plaque inscription extends a tribute to Paul Robeson's outstanding contribution to the historic struggles in defense of democratic Spain, his devotion and support to the VALB during the war and after and his continued active participation in the people's movement for Peace and Freedom of all oppressed humanity.

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Langston Hughes
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[[image - Two Cuban officers in the 46th Division conversing with Langston Hughes (center).]]

[[image - Langston Hughes with "Robbie" Robinson.]]

Langston Hughes--America's great Black poet paid U.S. veterans a visit. His inspiring poems have become a legend for all anti-fascists wherever the great battles for human rights, liberty, independence and equality adorn the banners of the front line fighters. (Two of his poems are included in the Saga transcript, reprinted in this pamphlet.)