The newly digitized 1989 DEFA documentary “Paul Robeson: ‘I’m a Negro. I’m an American’” is currently receiving its first theatrical run outside of Germany at Anthology Film Archives in New York City. Made possible through a collaboration between the cinema, the German Film Office in New York and the DEFA Film Library at UMass, the film will be presented through Sept. 26.

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The 1989 documentary—made by East German film director Kurt Tetzlaff and presented with new subtitles created by the DEFA Film Library team—is a cinematic homage to African American singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, who lived from 1898-1976. The film tells his story in non-chronological order, using a compilation of materials, including rarely shown historic footage, photographs of the U.S. civil rights movement, speeches and performances. Interviews with Paul Robeson Jr., Earl Robinson, Pete Seeger and Harry Belafonte give insight into the courageous life of a true Renaissance man.

“From any perspective, the film stands as an elegant, revealing, and powerful portrait of a towering figure in American culture, society and politics,” says Jed Rapfogel, film curator at Anthology Film Archives.

The documentary will be introduced by Kevina King, member of the faculty at Howard University and vice president of the Black German Research and Heritage Association, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 6:45 pm; and by Mariana Ivanova, associate professor at UMass Amherst and academic director of the DEFA Film Library, on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6:45 pm.

The film is also currently available for streaming from the DEFA Film Library. Later this fall, DEFA will also release the documentary on DVD with extensive bonus materials, including an exclusive essay by UMass alumnae Jamele Watkins and Kira Thurman, faculty members at the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, respectively.