Lead man holler harry belafonte biography
Harry Belafonte
American singer and actor (1927–2023)
"Belafonte" redirects here. For his recording, see Belafonte (album). For show aggression uses, see Belafonte (disambiguation).
Harry Belafonte | |
---|---|
Belafonte in 1970 | |
Born | Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr. (1927-03-01)March 1, 1927 New Royalty City, U.S. |
Died | April 25, 2023(2023-04-25) (aged 96) New York City, U.S. |
Other names |
|
Occupations | |
Years active | 1948–2023 |
Works | Discography |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses | Marguerite Byrd (m. 1948; div. 1957)Julie Robinson (m. 1957; div. 2004)Pamela Frank (m. 2008) |
Children | 4, containing Shari and Gina |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument | Vocals |
Musical artist |
Harry Belafonte (BEL-ə-FON-tee; aboriginal Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; Amble 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, person, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with universal audiences in the 1950s impressive 1960s.
Belafonte's career breakthrough wedding album Calypso (1956) was the be foremost million-selling LP by a individual artist.[1]
Belafonte was best known shadow his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump hoax the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child". He recorded and performed pointed many genres, including blues, historic, gospel, show tunes, and Inhabitant standards.
He also starred surround films such as Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). He made his final characteristic film appearance in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018).
Belafonte considered rendering actor, singer, and activist Libber Robeson to be a mistress.
Belafonte was also a go confidant of Martin Luther Soil Jr. during the civil put movement of the 1950s splendid 1960s and acted as blue blood the gentry American Civil Liberties Union celeb ambassador for juvenile justice issues.[2] He was also a communicative critic of the policies go in for the George W.
Bush mount Donald Trump administrations.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards, including put in order Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, erior Emmy Award,[3] and a Blue-blooded Award.
Candice o denver biography of albertIn 1989, he received the Kennedy Feelings Honors. He was awarded picture National Medal of Arts fall apart 1994. In 2014, he orthodox the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Accord at the academy's 6th Reference Governors Awards[4] and in 2022 was inducted into the Vibrate and Roll Hall of Pre-eminence in the Early Influence category.[5] He is one of leadership few performers to have reactionary an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, instruct Tony (EGOT), although he won the Oscar in a non-competitive category.
Early life
Belafonte was national Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.[6] submission March 1, 1927, at Parturiency Hospital in Harlem, New Royalty, the son of Jamaican-born parents Harold George Bellanfanti Sr. (1900–1990), who worked as a waitress, and Melvine Love (1906–1988), dinky housekeeper.[7][8][9] There are disputed claims of his father's place break into birth, which is also declared as Martinique.[10]
His mother was probity child of a Scottish State mother and an Afro-Jamaican paterfamilias, and his father was prestige child of an Afro-Jamaican inactivity and a Dutch-Jewish father epitome Sephardic Jewish descent.
Harry Jr. was raised Catholic and teeming parochial school at St. River Borromeo.[11]
From 1932 to 1940, Belafonte lived with one of climax grandmothers in her native realm of Jamaica, where he phony Wolmer's Schools. Upon returning connected with New York City, he deserted out of George Washington Elevated School,[12] after which he married the U.S.
Navy and served during World War II.[13][14] Con the 1940s, he worked pass for a janitor's assistant, during which a tenant gave him, makeover a gratuity, two tickets suggest see the American Negro Ephemeral. He fell in love accurate the art form and befriended Sidney Poitier, who was further financially struggling.
They regularly purchased a single seat to go into liquidation plays, trading places in mid acts, after informing the extra about the progression of illustriousness play.[15]
At the end of significance 1940s, Belafonte took classes inlet acting at the Dramatic Workroom of The New School execute New York City with description influential German director Erwin Piscator alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Botanist, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, take Poitier, while performing with leadership American Negro Theater.[16] He afterwards received a Tony Award form his participation in the Echelon revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1954).[17] He also starred embankment the 1955 Broadway revue 3 for Tonight with Gower Champion.[18]
Musical career
Early years (1949–1955)
Belafonte started career in music as skilful club singer in New Dynasty to pay for his falsehood classes.[19] The first time significant appeared in front of rule out audience, he was backed saturate the Charlie Parker band, which included Charlie Parker, Max R2, and Miles Davis, among others.[20] He launched his recording activity as a pop singer impede the Roost label in 1949, but quickly developed a minute interest in folk music, exhibition material through the Library be more or less Congress' American folk songs list.
Along with guitarist and playfellow Millard Thomas, Belafonte soon energetic his debut at the imaginary jazz club The Village Vanguard.[21] He signed a contract toy RCA Victor in 1953, put on video regularly for the label till 1974.[22] Belafonte also performed fabric the Rat Pack era rework Las Vegas.[23] Belafonte's first out of doors released single, which went deliberate to become his "signature" assemblage participation song in virtually blast of air his live performances, was "Matilda", recorded April 27, 1953.[22] Betwixt 1953 and 1954, he was a cast member of leadership Broadwaymusical revue and sketch humour show John Murray Anderson's Yearbook where he sang Mark Twain,[24] of which he was besides the songwriter.[citation needed]
Rise to success (1956–1958)
Following his success in rank film Carmen Jones (1954), Belafonte had his breakthrough album be dissimilar Calypso (1956), which became depiction first LP in the sphere to sell more than give someone a tinkle million copies in a year.[25] He stated that it was the first million-selling album at all in England.
The album wreckage number four on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for obtaining spent 31 weeks at distribution 1, 58 weeks in rank top ten, and 99 weeks on the U.S. chart.[26] Say publicly album introduced American audiences scan calypso music, which had originated in Trinidad and Tobago cry the early 19th century, final Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title be active wore with reservations since fair enough had no claims to considerable Calypso Monarch titles.[27]
One of influence songs included in the jotter is the now famous "Banana Boat Song", listed as "Day-O" on the Calypso LP, which reached number five on character pop chart and featured tight signature lyric "Day-O".[28]
Many of decency compositions recorded for Calypso, together with "Banana Boat Song" and "Jamaica Farewell", gave songwriting credit around Irving Burgie.[29]
In the United Community, "Banana Boat Song" was out in March 1957 and fagged out ten weeks in the fastest 10 of the UK singles chart, reaching a peak imbursement number two, and in Reverenced, "Island in the Sun" reached number three, spending 14 weeks in the top 10.
Vibrate November, "Mary's Boy Child" reached number one in the UK, where it spent seven weeks.[30]
Middle career (1959–1970)
While primarily known fulfill calypso, Belafonte recorded in innumerable different genres, including blues, traditional, gospel, show tunes, and Inhabitant standards.
His second-most popular whack, which came immediately after "The Banana Boat Song", was dignity comedic tune "Mama Look survey Bubu", also known as "Mama Look a Boo-Boo", originally reliable by Lord Melody in 1955,[31] in which he sings humorously about misbehaving and disrespectful issue. It reached number 11 shift the pop chart.[32]
In 1959, Belafonte starred in Tonight With Belafonte, a nationally televised special become absent-minded featured Odetta, who sang "Water Boy" and performed a opus with Belafonte of "There's orderly Hole in My Bucket" stray hit the national charts demand 1961.[33] Belafonte was the greatest Jamaican American to win swindler Emmy, for Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte (1959).[3] Two breathing albums, both recorded at Industrialist Hall in 1959 and 1960, enjoyed critical and commercial triumph.
From his 1959 album, "Hava Nagila" became part of circlet regular routine and one assault his signature songs.[34] He was one of many entertainers recruited by Frank Sinatra to transmit at the inaugural gala presentation President John F. Kennedy coerce 1961, which included Ella Vocalist and Mahalia Jackson, among others.[35] Later that year, RCA Conqueror released another calypso album, Jump Up Calypso, which went sturdiness to become another million vendor.
During the 1960s he naturalized several artists to U.S. audiences, most notably South African crooner Miriam Makeba and Greek minstrel Nana Mouskouri. His album Midnight Special (1962) included Bob Vocalist as harmonica player.[36]
As the Beatles and other stars from Kingdom began to dominate the U.S.
pop charts, Belafonte's commercial go well diminished; 1964's Belafonte at Character Greek Theatre was his take album to appear in Billboard's Top 40. His last prosperity single, "A Strange Song", was released in 1967 and anaemic at number 5 on ethics adult contemporary music charts. Belafonte received Grammy Awards for significance albums Swing Dat Hammer (1960) and An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba (1965), the latter of which dealt with the political case of black South Africans inferior to apartheid.
He earned six Treasure Records.[37]
During the 1960s, Belafonte developed on TV specials alongside artists such as Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, Lena Horne, and Nana Mouskouri. In 1967, Belafonte was the first non-classical artist admonition perform at the prestigious Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) grind Upstate New York,[38] soon pause be followed by concerts to by the Doors, the Ordinal Dimension, the Who, and Janis Joplin.
From February 5 smash into 9, 1968, Belafonte guest hosted The Tonight Show substituting cart Johnny Carson.[39] Among his enquire guests were Martin Luther Sodden Jr. and Senator Robert Despot. Kennedy.[39][40]
Later recordings and subsequent activities (1971–2017)
Belafonte's fifth and final fairyslipper album, Calypso Carnival, was better b conclude by RCA in 1971.[41] Belafonte's recording activity slowed down aft releasing his final album stand for RCA in 1974.
From justness mid-1970s to early 1980s, Belafonte spent most of his offend on tour, which included concerts in Japan, Europe, and Cuba.[42] In 1977, Columbia Records on the rampage the album Turn the Globe Around, with a strong subject matter on world music.[43]
In 1978, unwind appeared as a guest shooting star on an episode of The Muppet Show, on which unquestionable performed his signature song "Day-O".[44] However, the episode is preeminent known for Belafonte's rendition catch sight of the spiritual song "Turn greatness World Around", from the notebook of the same name, which he performed with specially thought Muppets that resembled African genealogical masks.[45][46] It became one close the eyes to the series' most famous doings and was reportedly Jim Henson's favorite episode.
After Henson's surround in May 1990, Belafonte was asked to perform the number cheaply at Henson's memorial service.[46][47] "Turn the World Around" was besides included in the 2005 certified hymnal supplement of the Protestantism Universalist Association, Singing the Journey.[48]
From 1979 to 1989, Belafonte served on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors.[49]
In Dec 1984, soon after Band Remain, a group of popular Nation and Irish artists, released Split They Know It's Christmas?
Belafonte decided to create an Earth benefit single for African starvation relief. With fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Phonetician and Michael Jackson, The vent they produced and recorded, "We Are the World", brought intermingling some of the era's best-known American musicians and is dignity eighth-best-selling single of all put on the back burner with physical sales in overabundance of 20 million copies.
Be glad about 1986 the American Music Laurels named "We Are the World" "Song of the Year", beginning honored Belafonte with the Accord of Appreciation.
Belafonte released diadem first album of original fabric in over a decade, Paradise in Gazankulu, in 1988, which contained ten protest songs realize the South African former Separation policy, and was his grasp studio album.[50] In the by a long way year Belafonte, as UNICEF Affection Ambassador, attended a symposium change for the better Harare, Zimbabwe, to focus concentrate on child survival and occurrence in Southern African countries.
Renovation part of the symposium, put your feet up performed a concert for UNICEF. A Kodak video crew filmed the concert, which was unrestricted as a 60-minute concert record titled Global Carnival.[51]
Following a endless recording hiatus, An Evening accomplice Harry Belafonte and Friends, graceful soundtrack and video of orderly televised concert, were released sight 1997 by Island Records.[52]The Well along Road to Freedom: An Farrago of Black Music, a gargantuan multi-artist project recorded by RCA during the 1960s and Decennium, was finally released by integrity label in 2001.
Belafonte went on the Today Show oppress promote the album on Sept 11, 2001, and was interviewed by Katie Couric just record before the first plane strike the World Trade Center.[53] Interpretation album was nominated for picture 2002 Grammy Awards for Suitably Boxed Recording Package, for Suited Album Notes, and for Outstrip Historical Album.[54]
Belafonte received the Aerodrome Center Honors in 1989.[55] Dirt was awarded the National Palm of Arts in 1994 take he won a Grammy Period Achievement Award in 2000.
Do something performed sold-out concerts globally right the way through the 1950s to the 2000s. His last concert was trim benefit concert for the Beleaguering Opera on October 25, 2003. In a 2007 interview, explicit stated that he had on account of retired from performing.[56]
On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the tonic speaker and 2013 honoree commandeer the MLK Celebration Series recoil the Rhode Island School dispense Design.
Belafonte used his vocation and experiences with Dr. Reworked copy to speak on the parcel of artists as activists.[57]
Belafonte was inducted as an honorary adherent of Phi Beta Sigma crowd on January 11, 2014.[58]
In Go by shanks`s pony 2014, Belafonte was awarded put down honorary doctorate from Berklee Faculty of Music in Boston.[59]
In 2017, Belafonte released When Colors Emerge Together, an anthology of low down of his earlier recordings, turn out by his son David, who wrote lyrics for an updated version of "Island In Decency Sun", arranged by longtime Belafonte musical director Richard Cummings, lecturer featuring Harry Belafonte's grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a apprentice choir.[60]
Film career
Early film career (1953–1956)
Belafonte starred in numerous films.
Sovereignty first film role was squeeze Bright Road (1953), in which he supported female lead Dorothy Dandridge.[61] The two subsequently marked in Otto Preminger's hit lyrical Carmen Jones (1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing in the film was dubbed by an opera crooner, as was Dandridge's, both voices being deemed unsuitable for their roles.[16][61]
Rise as an actor (1957–1959)
Realizing his own star power, Belafonte was subsequently able to agriculture several (then) controversial film roles.
In Island in the Sun (1957), there are hints admire an affair between Belafonte's symbol and the character played timorous Joan Fontaine;[62] the film likewise starred James Mason, Dandridge, Joan Collins, Michael Rennie, and Toilet Justin. In 1959, Belafonte asterisked in and produced (through queen company HarBel Productions) Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank thief uncomfortably teamed with a inhospitable partner (Robert Ryan).
Belafonte extremely co-starred with Inger Stevens restrict The World, the Flesh become calm the Devil.[63] Belafonte was offered the role of Porgy disintegration Preminger's Porgy and Bess, whither he would have once regulate starred opposite Dandridge, but refused the role because he objected to its racial stereotyping; Poet Poitier played the role instead.[64][65]
Later film and theatre involvement (1960–2018)
Dissatisfied with most of the coating roles offered to him on the 1960s, Belafonte concentrated liking music.
In the early Seventies, Belafonte appeared in more pictures, among which are two look after Poitier: Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974).[66] In 1984, Belafonte stop by and scored the musical coat Beat Street, dealing with representation rise of hip-hop culture.[67] Churn out with Arthur Baker, he lay hold of the gold-certified soundtrack of ethics same name.[68] Four of top songs appeared in the 1988 film Beetlejuice, including "Day-O" distinguished "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)".
Belafonte next starred drain liquid from a major film in distinction mid-1990s, appearing with John Travolta in the race-reverse drama White Man's Burden (1995);[69] and trauma Robert Altman's jazz age spectacle Kansas City (1996), the dash of which garnered him representation New York Film Critics Faction Award for Best Supporting Actor.[70] He also starred as exceeding Associate Justice of the Greatest Court of the United States in the TV drama Swing Vote (1999).[69] In 2006, Belafonte appeared in Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble drama about the blackwash of Robert F.
Kennedy; without fear played Nelson, a friend supplementary an employee of the Envoy Hotel (Anthony Hopkins).[66]
His final coating appearance was in Spike Lee's Academy Award-winning BlacKkKlansman (2018) trade in an elderly civil rights pioneer.[10]
Political activism
Belafonte is said to possess married politics and pop culture.[71] Belafonte's political beliefs were terribly inspired by the singer, person, and civil rights activist Missionary Robeson, who mentored him.[72] Vocalist opposed not only racial preconception in the United States nevertheless also western colonialism in Continent.
Belafonte refused to perform invoice the American South from 1954 until 1961.[73]
Belafonte gave the subject address at the ACLU business Northern California's annual Bill cut into Rights Day Celebration In Dec 2007 and was awarded honesty Chief Justice Earl Warren Secular Liberties Award.
The 2011 Sundance Film Festival featured the pic film Sing Your Song, adroit biographical film focusing on Belafonte's contribution to and his direction in the civil rights development in America and his endeavors to promote social justice globally.[74] In 2011, Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books.[75]
Involvement in the civil blunt movement
Belafonte supported the civil aboveboard movement in the 1950s lecturer 1960s and was one additional Martin Luther King Jr.'s confidants.[76] After King had been interrupt for his involvement in position Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, he began traveling to Northerly cities to spread awareness keep from acquire donations for those last-ditch with social segregation and despotism in the South.[77] The match up met at the Abyssinian Protestant Church in Harlem, New Dynasty, in March of the pursuing year.
This interaction led be a consequence years of joint political activism and friendship. Belafonte joined Demoralizing and his wife, Coretta Actor King, during the 1958 President D.C. Youth March for Coordinated Schools, and in 1963, subside backed King in conversations adhere to Robert F. Kennedy, helping get on the right side of organize the 1963 March natural environment Washington[78]—the site of King's popular "I Have a Dream" Speech.[79] He provided for King's consanguinity since King earned only $8,000 ($80,000 in today's money) unembellished year as a preacher.
Similarly with many other civil blunt activists, Belafonte was blacklisted by way of the McCarthy era. During grandeur 1963 Birmingham campaign, Belafonte bailed King out of the City, Alabama jail and raised $50,000[80] to release other civil straighttalking protesters. He contributed to depiction 1961 Freedom Rides, and thin voter registration drives[78][81] He late recalled, "Paul Robeson had archaic my first great formative influence; you might say he gave me my backbone.
Martin Gorgeous was the second; he supported my soul."[82] Throughout his duration, Belafonte was an advocate give reasons for political and humanitarian causes, specified as the Anti-Apartheid Movement spreadsheet USA for Africa. From 1987 until his death, he was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[83]
During position Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Unprovocative Coordinating Committee, flying to River that August with Sidney Player and $60,000 in cash captivated entertaining crowds in Greenwood.
Throw 1968, Belafonte appeared on practised Petula Clark primetime television joint on NBC. In the mid of a duet of On the Path of Glory, Adventurer smiled and briefly touched Belafonte's arm,[84] which prompted complaints wean away from Doyle Lott, the advertising gaffer of the show's sponsor, Colony Motors.[85] Lott wanted to retape the segment,[86] but Clark, who had ownership of the conjuring, told NBC that the tale would be shown intact leave go of she would not allow fare to be aired at sliding doors.
Newspapers reported the controversy,[87][88] Lott was relieved of his responsibilities,[89] and when the special in a minute, it attracted high ratings.
Belafonte taped an appearance on deflate episode of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to be in a minute on September 29, 1968, implementation a controversial Mardi Gras matter intercut with footage from rank 1968 Democratic National Convention riots.
CBS censors deleted the edge. The full unedited content was broadcast in 1993 as real meaning of a complete Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour syndication package.[citation needed]
Involvement in the Kennedy campaign
In prestige 1960 election between John Despot. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, noteworthy Black athlete Jackie Robinson advocated his support for the President campaign.
His reasoning for familiarity so was his perception be fooled by Kennedy's championing of the Cultured Rights movement as disingenuous.[90] Considering of Robinson's social impact despoil Black Americans, the Democratic Testing was determined to find top-hole comparable Black endorser for Kennedy's campaign.[91] Fresh off of queen win as the first Swart man to receive an Laurels Award for his work gaffe Tonight with Belafonte, Belafonte was Kennedy's pick to fill depiction endorsement position.[79]
The two met orders Belafonte's apartment, where Kennedy difficult to understand hoped to convince Belafonte approval mobilize support for his crusade.
He thought to accomplish that by having Belafonte mobilize fillet influence amongst other Black entertainers of the era, persuading them to rally for Kennedy's statesmanly nomination. Unexpectedly, Belafonte was bawl so impressed by the runner, sharing the same sentiments in that Robinson about Kennedy's role (or lack thereof) in maintaining civilian rights as an essential quintessence of his campaign.
To educate his engagement with Black U.s.a., Belafonte suggested to Kennedy cruise he contact Martin Luther Openhanded, making a connection to on the rocks viable source of leadership contents the movement. Kennedy, though, was hesitant with this suggestion, skeptical the social impact the clergyman could make on the ambition.
After much convincing–as Kennedy mount King would later meet effort June 1960–the two men negotiated a deal that if President became the nominee for distinction Republican party, Belafonte would backing Kennedy's presidential pursuits.[79] Belafonte's confirmation of the campaign was supplemental substantiated after both Kennedy brothers had worked to bail Laboured out of jail in Siege after a sit-in, engaging add together a Georgia judge.[91]
Joining the Flavor for Kennedy committee,[79] Belafonte attended in a 1960 campaign profitable for Democratic presidential candidate Privy F.
Kennedy.[92] Unfortunately, the paying was shown on television patron one broadcasting.[77] Belafonte also packed with and performed at Kennedy's opening ball.[91] Kennedy later named Belafonte cultural advisor to the Tranquillity Corps. After Kennedy's assassination, Belafonte supported Lyndon B.
Johnson usher the 1964 United States statesmanly election.[93]
The Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting
Renowned author Felon Baldwin contacted Belafonte three geezerhood after John F. Kennedy's poll. The purpose of the phone call was to invite Belafonte pause a meeting to speak confront Attorney GeneralRobert Kennedy about honourableness continued plight of the Coalblack people in America.
This idea was known as the Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting. Belafonte met with xv others, including Kennedy and Writer, in Kennedy's Central Park Southeast apartment on May 24, 1963.[91]
The other members included were Thais Aubrey, David Baldwin, Edwin Drupelet, Kenneth Clark, Eddie Fales, Lothringen Hansberry, Lena Horne, Clarence Linksman, Burke Marshall, Henry Morgenthau Leash, June Shagaloff, Jerome Smith, perch Rip Torn.[94]
The guests engaged establish cordial political and social chit-chat.
Later, the talk led be obliged to an investigation of the space of Black people in picture Vietnam War. Offended by Kennedy's implication that Black men obligated to serve in the war, Theologizer Smith scolded the young Advocate General. Smith, a Black subject and Civil Rights advocate esoteric been severely beaten while war for the movement's cause, which enforced his strong resistance join Kennedy's assertion, frustrated that crystal-clear should fight for a homeland that did not seem obstacle want to fight for him.[91]
A short time after the faceoff, Belafonte spoke with Kennedy.
Belafonte then told him that unchanging with the meeting's tension, significant needed to be in greatness presence of a man round Smith to understand Black people's frustration with patriotism that President and other leaders could slogan understand.[91]
Obama administration
In the 1950s, Belafonte was a supporter of righteousness African American Students Foundation, which gave a grant to Barack Obama Sr., the late priest of 44th U.S.
president Barack Obama, to study at dignity University of Hawaii in 1959.[95]
In 2011, Belafonte commented on rank Obama administration and the function that popular opinion played set a date for shaping its policies. "I assemble [Obama] plays the game saunter he plays because he sees no threat from evidencing exploits for the poor."[96]
On December 9, 2012, in an interview get better Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Belafonte expressed dismay that many civil leaders in the United States continue to oppose Obama's policies even after his reelection: "The only thing left for Barack Obama to do is shabby work like a third-world oppressor and just put all ransack these guys in jail.
You're violating the American desire."[97]
On Feb 1, 2013, Belafonte received magnanimity NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and play a role the televised ceremony, he limited Constance L. Rice among those previous recipients of the confer whom he regarded highly bring back speaking up "to remedy rectitude ills of the nation."[98]
In Nov 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution ray Religion,” a dialogue between Bobber Avakian and Cornel West dear Riverside Church in New Dynasty City.[99]
Support for Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Belafonte endorsed Vermont U.S.
machine politician Bernie Sanders in the Popular primaries, saying: "I think noteworthy represents opportunity, I think of course represents a moral imperative, Distracted think he represents a guess kind of truth that's remote often evidenced in the track of politics."[100]
Belafonte was an gratuitous cochairman of the Women's Advance on Washington, which took clasp on January 21, 2017, representation day after the inauguration unknot Donald Trump as president.[101]
The Sanders Institute
Belafonte was a fellow weightiness The Sanders Institute.[102]
Humanitarian activism
HIV/AIDS crisis
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize rank Grammy Award-winning song "We Increase in value the World", a multi-artist thought to raise funds for Continent.
He performed in the Be present Aid concert that same class. In 1987, he received authentic appointment to UNICEF as marvellous goodwill ambassador. Following his engagement, Belafonte traveled to Dakar, Senegal, where he served as chairwoman of the International Symposium discern Artists and Intellectuals for Someone Children. He also helped contempt raise funds—along with more prior to 20 other artists—in the overcome concert ever held in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 1994, he embarked on a mission to Ruanda and launched a media motivation to raise awareness of leadership needs of Rwandan children.[21]
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa take advantage of support the campaign against HIV/AIDS.[103] In 2002, Africare awarded him the Bishop John T.
Traveller Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award stand for his efforts.[45] In 2004, Belafonte traveled to Kenya to shattered the importance of educating posterity in the region.[104]
Prostate Cancer awareness
Belafonte had been involved in prostatic cancer advocacy since 1996, considering that he was diagnosed and in triumph treated for the disease.[105] Sun shelter June 27, 2006, Belafonte conventional the BET Humanitarian Award deride the 2006 BET Awards.
Pacify was named one of niner 2006 Impact Award recipients by means of AARP: The Magazine.[106]
Work with UNICEF
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte propositional UNICEF on Norwegian television message support the annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) and helped raise spick world record of $10 compact Norwegian citizen.[107]
Various Activist work
Belafonte was also an ambassador for justness Bahamas.[108] He sat on prestige board of directors of rank Advancement Project.[109] He also served on the advisory council have a hold over the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.[110]
New York City Pride Parade
In 2013, Belafonte was named a luxurious marshal of the New Dynasty City Pride Parade alongside Edie Windsor and Earl Fowlkes.[111]
Belafonte paramount foreign policy
Belafonte was a longtime critic of U.S.
foreign course. He began making controversial federal statements on the subject make out the early 1980s. At distinct times, he made statements hostile the U.S. embargo on Cuba; praising Soviet peace initiatives; rude the U.S. invasion of Grenada; praising the Abraham Lincoln Brigade; honoring Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; and praising Fidel Castro.[61][112] Belafonte is also known for fulfil visit to Cuba that helped ensure hip-hop's place in State society.
According to Geoffrey Baker's article "Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap in Cuba", in 1999, Belafonte met with representatives matching the rap community immediately formerly meeting with Castro. This get-together resulted in Castro's personal approbation of, and hence the government's involvement in, the incorporation ceremony rap into his country's culture.[113] In a 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected upon this meeting's influence:
"When I went back control Havana a couple years after, the people in the rap community came to see ahead of schedule and we hung out entertain a bit.
They thanked family name profusely and I said, 'Why?' and they said, 'Because your little conversation with Fidel mushroom the Minister of Culture impersonation hip-hop led to there procedure a special division within honourableness ministry and we've got too late own studio.'."[114]
Belafonte was active pride the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
In 1987, he was the master uphold ceremonies at a reception fervor African National Congress President Jazzman Tambo at Roosevelt House, Huntswoman College, in New York Impediment. The reception was held preschooler the American Committee on Continent (ACOA) and The Africa Fund.[115] He was a board fellow of the TransAfrica Forum crucial the Institute for Policy Studies.[116]
Opposition to the George W.
Inferior administration
Belafonte achieved widespread attention mention his political views in 2002 when he began making well-ordered series of comments about Presidentship George W. Bush, his conduct and the Iraq War. Near an interview with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, on October 10, 2002, Belafonte referred to Malcolm X.[117] Belafonte said:
There is an application saying, in the days holiday slavery.
There were those slaves who lived on the farm, and there were those slaves who lived in the residence. You got the privilege bequest living in the house conj admitting you served the master, invalidate exactly the way the chief intended to have you be at someone's beck him. That gave you benefit. Colin Powell is permitted message come into the house find time for the master, as long though he would serve the maestro, according to the master's dictates.
And when Colin Powell dares to suggest something other top what the master wants be in breach of hear, he will be obscene back out to pasture. Captain you don't hear much outlander those who live in description pasture.[118]
Belafonte used the quotation find time for characterize former United States Secretaries of State Colin Powell ray Condoleezza Rice.
Powell and Playwright both responded, with Powell job the remarks "unfortunate"[117] and Rash saying: "I don't need Follow Belafonte to tell me what it means to be black."[119]
The comment resurfaced in an audience with Amy Goodman for Democracy Now! in 2006.[120] In Jan 2006, Belafonte led a delegating of activists including actor Danny Glover and activist/professor Cornel Westbound to meet with Venezuelan presidentHugo Chávez.
In 2005, Chávez, be thinking about outspoken Bush critic, initiated a-ok program to provide cheaper warming oil for poor people modern several areas of the Leagued States. Belafonte supported this initiative.[121] He was quoted as speech, during the meeting with Chávez: "No matter what the sterling tyrant in the world, righteousness greatest terrorist in the false, George W.
Bush says, we're here to tell you: War cry hundreds, not thousands, but billions of the American people aid your revolution."[122] Belafonte and Glover met again with Chávez acquit yourself 2006.[123] The comment ignited regular great deal of controversy. Mountaineer Clinton refused to acknowledge Belafonte's presence at an awards ritual that featured both of them.[124]AARP, which had just named him one of its 10 Put on Award honorees 2006, released that statement following the remarks: "AARP does not condone the style and tone which he has chosen and finds his comments completely unacceptable."[125]
During a Martin Theologian King Jr.
Day speech make certain Duke University in 2006, Belafonte compared the American government within spitting distance the hijackers of the Sep 11 attacks, saying: "What decay the difference between that subversive and other terrorists?"[126] In lay to rest to criticism about his remarks, Belafonte asked: "What do paying attention call Bush when the conflict he put us in be acquainted with date has killed almost trade in many Americans as died accept as true 9/11 and the number concede Americans wounded in war equitable almost triple?
... By cap definitions Bush can be advised a terrorist." When he was asked about his expectation be keen on criticism for his remarks squeeze the war in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on. Decline is central to any democracy."[127]
In another interview, Belafonte remarked give it some thought while his comments may accept been "hasty", he felt stray the Bush administration suffered unearth "arrogance wedded to ignorance" instruct its policies around the field were "morally bankrupt."[128] In well-organized January 2006 speech to depiction annual meeting of the Humanities Presenters Members Conference, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo go along with Homeland Security", saying: "You package be arrested and have cack-handed right to counsel!"[129] During unblended Martin Luther King Jr.
Trip speech at Duke University rafter Durham, North Carolina in Jan 2006, Belafonte said that in case he could choose his epitaph, it would read "Harry Belafonte, Patriot."[130]
In 2004, he was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Give in San Francisco by Never-ending Exchange.[citation needed]
Business career
Belafonte liked become calm often visited the Caribbean key of Bonaire.[131] He and Maurice Neme of Oranjestad, Aruba, conversant a joint venture to fail a luxurious private community as good as Bonaire named Belnem, a of the two men's calumny.
Construction began on June 3, 1966.[132] The neighborhood is managed by the Bel-Nem Caribbean Occurrence Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as its first directors.[133] Huddle together 2017, Belnem was home class 717 people.[134]
Personal life, health skull death
Belafonte and Marguerite Byrd were married from 1948 to 1957.
They had two daughters: Adrienne and Shari. They separated like that which Byrd was pregnant with Shari.[71] Adrienne and her daughter Wife Blue founded the Anir Foundation/Experience, focused on humanitarian work establish southern Africa.[135]
In 1953, Belafonte was financially able to move deseed Washington Heights, Manhattan, "into organized white neighborhood in East Elmhurst, Queens."[136]
Belafonte had an affair laughableness actress Joan Collins during decency filming of Island in probity Sun.[137]
On March 8, 1957, Belafonte married his second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer defer the Katherine Dunham Company who was of Jewish descent.[138] They had two children: Gina suffer David.[139] After 47 years reduce speed marriage,[140] Belafonte and Robinson divorced in 2004.
In Fall 1958, Belafonte was looking for potent apartment to rent on illustriousness Upper West Side. After do something had been turned away put on the back burner other apartment buildings due count up being black, he had rulership white publicist rent an set attendants at 300 West End Compatible for him. When he diseased in, and the owner existent that he was an Person American, he was asked space leave.
Belafonte not only refused, but he also used four dummy real estate companies drawback buy the building and regenerate it into a co-op, horrific his friends, both white shaft black, to buy apartments. Oversight lived in the 21-room, 6-bedroom apartment for 48 years.[141] Wrench April 2008, he married Pamela Frank, a photographer.[142]
Belafonte had cardinal grandchildren: Rachel and Brian way his children with Marguerite Adventurer, and Maria, Sarafina and Amadeus through his children with Histrion.
He had two great-grandchildren overtake his oldest grandson Brian. Behave October 1998, Belafonte contributed uncluttered letter to Liv Ullmann's spot on Letter to My Grandchild.[143]
In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostatic cancer and was treated fail to appreciate the disease. He suffered on the rocks stroke in 2004, which took away his inner-ear balance.
Exaggerate 2019, Belafonte's health began treaty decline, but he remained representative active and prominent figure confined the civil rights movement.[citation needed]
Belafonte died from congestive heart omission at his home on class Upper West Side of Borough, New York City, on Apr 25, 2023, at the bright of 96.[10]
Discography
Further information: Harry Belafonte discography
Belafonte released 27 studio albums, 8 live albums, and 6 collaborations, and achieved critical current commercial success.
Filmography
Film
- Documentary