His characters were generally exploited to show what directors wanted them to show instead of showing what Robeson wanted them to. Scenes like that from the beginning of The Emperor Jones when he sings in front of the mirrors and shows his amazing smile have had a huge impact on the audiences that mostly considered black people to be untalented. In spite of the fact that directors did all that they could to use his character as they wished, Robeson's acting abilities captivated audiences and made them believe that the actor had had a strong character which rendered him unfit for playing weak roles.

The Emperor Jones presents Robeson as he plays the role of Brutus Jones, a black man taking advantage of every circumstance to better his social position. Even when people try to fool him, Brutus demonstrates that he...

Jones is imprisoned after having murdered a man, but, he kills a prison guard and manages to escape to Jamaica. There, he and his new companion, Smithers, fool the island's people into thinking that Jones possesses supernatural powers. As a result, the island's old king is removed and Jones takes his place on the throne. The occurrence must have made black people that attended the movie feel proud that a black man came to be ruler of a whole island and to command his white partner.
The movie has been one of best films in which Robeson played, as the actor managed to express every bit of his true character, and to make it seem as he had been powerful even as he ran naked through the jungle.

Works cited:

The Emperor Jones. (1933). Dir. Dudley Murphey.