Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance Inc. (RAAA), Inc. is grateful for the opportunity to assist the Rutgers University Class of 1971 Milestone Campaign in support of the highly anticipated Paul Robeson Plaza. In recognition of its 45th anniversary, the Class of 1971 has championed a space to pay homage to Paul Robeson. The plaza will be prominently located near Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Class gift will serve as a beacon celebrating the power of the human spirit–publicly proclaiming Robeson’s life and legacy as one of Rutgers’ greatest advocates for national and global social justice. The dedication will take place in 2019 in honor of his 100th graduation anniversary from Rutgers College.
In 2016, RAAA extended an invitation for the 1971 class representative, Mr. Jim Savage, to be a guest speaker at our 13th Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony. We did so in the hopes of garnering support from our alumni base. As a result of his presentation, we were able to help raise $13,000.00 in support of this great effort. As this visionary class project so complemented our 2016 Hall of Fame theme of “Continuing the Legacy” and the inaugural presentation of our “Keepers of the Legacy” award, we deemed it our duty to continue to provide opportunities for our community to get involved in this great effort.
Our goal is to secure inscribed pavers in memory of our seven deceased RAAA Hall of Fame Inductees as well as securing pavers representing as many student organizations and or significant events/movements across all three campuses. Individuals who wish to support honorary or memorial pavers are most welcome!
We invite you to join us in generously supporting this fitting tribute. With your help, we can help bring the life achievements of Paul Robeson back to the very Rutgers ground where he grew and flourished in preparing for what would become an extraordinary life journey by this consummate Renaissance “Rutgers” Man. 2019, here we come!
