Harry belafonte biography wikipedia wikipedia
Harry Belafonte
American singer and actor (1927–2023)
"Belafonte" redirects here. For his jotter, see Belafonte (album). For overturn uses, see Belafonte (disambiguation).
Harry Belafonte | |
|---|---|
Belafonte in 1970 | |
| Born | Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr. (1927-03-01)March 1, 1927 New Dynasty 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; congenital Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; Walk 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, person, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with ubiquitous audiences in the 1950s concentrate on 1960s.
Belafonte's career breakthrough photo album Calypso (1956) was the pass with flying colours million-selling LP by a free artist.[1]
Belafonte was best known in line for his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump extort the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child".
He recorded and performed interpolate many genres, including blues, established, gospel, show tunes, and Land standards.[2] He also starred divert 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 truss film appearance in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018).
Belafonte considered birth actor, singer, and activist Libber Robeson to be a master. Belafonte was also a zip confidant of Martin Luther Festivity Jr. during the civil ask movement of the 1950s be proof against 1960s and acted as justness American Civil Liberties Union draw ambassador for juvenile justice issues.[3] He was also a verbal critic of the policies consume the George W.
Bush enthralled Donald Trump administrations.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards, including uncluttered Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, distinction Emmy Award,[4] and a Mannerly Award. In 1989, he conventional the Kennedy Center Honors. Inaccuracy was awarded the National Laurel of Arts in 1994. Hard cash 2014, he received the Pants Hersholt Humanitarian Award at rendering academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards[5] and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Hike Hall of Fame in justness Early Influence category.[6] He psychoanalysis one of the few troupe to have received an Honour, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), although he won the Honor in a non-competitive category.
Early life
Belafonte was born Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr.[7] on March 1, 1927, at Lying-in Hospital integrate Harlem, New York, the essence of Jamaican-born parents Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Sr. (1900–1990), who assumed as a chef, and Melvine Love (1906–1988), a housekeeper.[8][9][10] Just about are disputed claims of top father's place of birth, which is also stated as Martinique.[11]
His mother was the child fairhaired a Scottish Jamaican mother forward an Afro-Jamaican father, and diadem father was the child go together with an Afro-Jamaican mother and grand Dutch-Jewish father of Sephardic Person descent.
Harry Jr. was upraised Catholic and attended parochial secondary at St. Charles Borromeo.[12]
From 1932 to 1940, Belafonte lived area one of his grandmothers place in her native country of Land, where he attended Wolmer's Schools. Upon returning to New Dynasty City, he dropped out appreciate George Washington High School,[13] astern which he joined the U.S.
Navy and served during Environment War II.[14][15] In the Forties, he worked as a janitor's assistant, during which a leaseholder gave him, as a pourboire also tip-off, two tickets to see glory American Negro Theater. He integument in love with the sham form and befriended Sidney Histrion, who was also financially frantic.
They regularly purchased a individual seat to local plays, trade places in between acts, tail end informing the other about honesty progression of the play.[16]
At birth end of the 1940s, Belafonte took classes in acting be persistent the Dramatic Workshop of Influence New School in New Dynasty City with the influential Germanic director Erwin Piscator alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Poitier, like chalk and cheese performing with the American Coal-black Theater.[17] He subsequently received skilful Tony Award for his training in the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1954).[18] Let go also starred in the 1955 Broadway revue 3 for Tonight with Gower Champion.[19]
Musical career
Early period (1949–1955)
Belafonte started his career hub music as a club soloist in New York to alimony for his acting classes.[20] Distinction first time he appeared pretend front of an audience, recognized was backed by the Airhead Parker band, which included Airhead Parker, Max Roach, and Miles Davis, among others.[21] He launched his recording career as top-hole pop singer on the Pole label in 1949, but gaudy developed a keen interest urgency folk music, learning material make up the Library of Congress' Indweller folk songs archives.
Along additional guitarist and friend Millard Apostle, Belafonte soon made his first performance at the legendary jazz truncheon The Village Vanguard.[22] He symbol a contract with RCA Conquistador in 1953, recording regularly receive the label until 1974.[23] Belafonte also performed during the Bounder Pack era in Las Vegas.[24] Belafonte's first widely released one and only, which went on to expire his "signature" audience participation sticker in virtually all his stick up for performances, was "Matilda", recorded Apr 27, 1953.[23] Between 1953 extract 1954, he was a negative member of the Broadwaymusical variety and sketch comedy show Crapper Murray Anderson's Almanac where elegance sang Mark Twain,[25] of which he was also the songwriter.[citation needed]
Rise to fame (1956–1958)
Following surmount success in the film Carmen Jones (1954), Belafonte had sovereign breakthrough album with Calypso (1956), which became the first Groundwork in the world to exchange more than one million copies in a year.[26] He declared that it was the important million-selling album ever in England.
The album is number twosome on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top rope, and 99 weeks on honesty U.S. chart.[27] The album imported American audiences to calypso tune euphony, which had originated in Island and Tobago in the completely 19th century, and Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title he wore tighten reservations since he had maladroit thumbs down d claims to any Calypso Queen titles.[28]
One of the songs numbered in the album is dignity now famous "Banana Boat Song", listed as "Day-O" on rank Calypso LP, which reached consider five on the pop tabulation and featured its signature elegiac "Day-O".[29]
Many of the compositions filmed for Calypso, including "Banana Vessel Song" and "Jamaica Farewell", gave songwriting credit to Irving Burgie.[30]
In the United Kingdom, "Banana Knockabout Song" was released in Step 1957 and spent ten weeks in the top 10 competition the UK singles chart, stretch a peak of number one, and in August, "Island compromise the Sun" reached number link, spending 14 weeks in integrity top 10.
In November, "Mary's Boy Child" reached number lone in the UK, where rap spent seven weeks.[31]
Middle career (1959–1970)
While primarily known for calypso, Belafonte recorded in many different genres, including blues, folk, gospel, demonstrate tunes, and American standards.
Coronate second-most popular hit, which came immediately after "The Banana Vessel Song", was the comedic disorder "Mama Look at Bubu", extremely known as "Mama Look uncluttered Boo-Boo", originally recorded by Nobleman Melody in 1955,[32] in which he sings humorously about inclement and disrespectful children.
It reached number 11 on the appear chart.[33]
In 1959, Belafonte starred tabled Tonight With Belafonte, a on a national scale televised special that featured Odetta, who sang "Water Boy" cranium performed a duet with Belafonte of "There's a Hole pathway My Bucket" that hit influence national charts in 1961.[34] Belafonte was the first Jamaican Inhabitant to win an Emmy, provision Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte (1959).[4] Two live albums, both recorded at Carnegie Hall train in 1959 and 1960, enjoyed censorious and commercial success.
From rule 1959 album, "Hava Nagila" became part of his regular method and one of his die-stamp songs.[35] He was one call up many entertainers recruited by Naked Sinatra to perform at authority inaugural gala of President Toilet F. Kennedy in 1961, which included Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson, among others.[36] Later deviate year, RCA Victor released recourse calypso album, Jump Up Calypso, which went on to comprehend another million seller.
During influence 1960s he introduced several artists to U.S. audiences, most singularly South African singer Miriam Makeba and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri. His album Midnight Special (1962) included Bob Dylan as harp player.[37]
As the Beatles and extra stars from Britain began forth dominate the U.S. pop charts, Belafonte's commercial success diminished; 1964's Belafonte at The Greek Theatre was his last album there appear in Billboard's Top 40.
His last hit single, "A Strange Song", was released dainty 1967 and peaked at back issue 5 on the adult latest music charts. Belafonte received Grammy Awards for the albums Swing Dat Hammer (1960) and An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba (1965), excellence latter of which dealt occur to the political plight of grey South Africans under apartheid.
Sharp-tasting earned six Gold Records.[38]
During rectitude 1960s, Belafonte appeared on Small screen specials alongside artists such style Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, River Horne, and Nana Mouskouri. Dupe 1967, Belafonte was the be foremost non-classical artist to perform watch over the prestigious Saratoga Performing Terrace Center (SPAC) in Upstate Original York,[39] soon to be followed by concerts there by picture Doors, the 5th Dimension, nobility Who, and Janis Joplin.
From February 5 to 9, 1968, Belafonte guest hosted The Tonight Show substituting for Johnny Carson.[40] Among his interview guests were Martin Luther King Jr. opinion Senator Robert F. Kennedy.[40][41]
Later recordings and subsequent activities (1971–2017)
Belafonte's 5th and final calypso album, Calypso Carnival, was issued by RCA in 1971.[42] Belafonte's recording duration slowed down after releasing her highness final album for RCA expose 1974.
From the mid-1970s pact early 1980s, Belafonte spent virtually of his time on trip, which included concerts in Gild, Europe, and Cuba.[43] In 1977, Columbia Records released the single Turn the World Around, obey a strong focus on faux music.[44]
In 1978, he appeared monkey a guest star on ending episode of The Muppet Show, on which he performed authority signature song "Day-O".[45] However, illustriousness episode is best known espousal Belafonte's rendition of the abstract song "Turn the World Around", from the album of blue blood the gentry same name, which he absolute with specially made Muppets defer resembled African tribal masks.[46][47] Out of use became one of the series' most famous performances and was reportedly Jim Henson's favorite occurrence.
After Henson's death in Can 1990, Belafonte was asked agree perform the song at Henson's memorial service.[47][48] "Turn the Area Around" was also included wrapping the 2005 official hymnal affixing of the Unitarian Universalist Collection, Singing the Journey.[49]
From 1979 alongside 1989, Belafonte served on depiction Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board hillock directors.[50]
In December 1984, in the near future after Band Aid, a caste of popular British and Green artists, released Do They Place It's Christmas?
Belafonte decided come close to create an American benefit sui generis incomparabl for African famine relief. Joint fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Archangel Jackson, The song they known and recorded, "We Are picture World", brought together some warm the era's best-known American musicians and is the eighth-best-selling free of all time with corporal sales in excess of 20 million copies.
In 1986 position American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song assert the Year", and honored Belafonte with the Award of Thanks.
Belafonte released his first baby book of original material in be in command of a decade, Paradise in Gazankulu, in 1988, which contained take somebody's place protest songs against the Southern African former Apartheid policy, present-day was his last studio album.[51] In the same year Belafonte, as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, oversupplied with a symposium in Harare, Rhodesia, to focus attention on toddler survival and development in Grey African countries.
As part female the symposium, he performed precise concert for UNICEF. A Kodak video crew filmed the put yourself out, which was released as out 60-minute concert video titled Global Carnival.[52]
Following a lengthy recording halt, An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends, a soundtrack come to rest video of a televised put yourself out, were released in 1997 rough Island Records.[53]The Long Road defy Freedom: An Anthology of Reeky Music, a huge multi-artist effort recorded by RCA during significance 1960s and 1970s, was lastly released by the label hub 2001.
Belafonte went on description Today Show to promote nobility album on September 11, 2001, and was interviewed by Katie Couric just minutes before interpretation first plane hit the Existence Trade Center.[54] The album was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Boxed Transcription Package, for Best Album Make a recording, and for Best Historical Album.[55]
Belafonte received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989.[56] He was awarded the National Medal of Bailiwick in 1994 and he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Purse in 2000.
He performed sold-out concerts globally through the Decade to the 2000s. His person's name concert was a benefit distract for the Atlanta Opera boundary October 25, 2003. In put in order 2007 interview, he stated go off he had since retired overrun performing.[57]
On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the keynote speaker paramount 2013 honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Belafonte used his career and diary with Dr. King to discourse with on the role of artists as activists.[58]
Belafonte was inducted gorilla an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on Jan 11, 2014.[59]
In March 2014, Belafonte was awarded an honorary degree from Berklee College of Descant in Boston.[60]
In 2017, Belafonte on the loose When Colors Come Together, program anthology of some of reward earlier recordings, produced by cap son David, who wrote words for an updated version extent "Island In The Sun", frozen by longtime Belafonte musical selfopinionated Richard Cummings, and featuring Chevy Belafonte's grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a children's choir.[61]
Film career
Early film career (1953–1956)
Belafonte starred stuff numerous films.
His first hide role was in Bright Road (1953), in which he slender female lead Dorothy Dandridge.[62] Picture two subsequently starred in Otto Preminger's hit musical Carmen Jones (1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing essential the film was dubbed soak an opera singer, as was Dandridge's, both voices being ostensible unsuitable for their roles.[17][62]
Rise monkey an actor (1957–1959)
Realizing his society star power, Belafonte was at a later date able to land several (then) controversial film roles.
In Island in the Sun (1957), hither are hints of an concern between Belafonte's character and leadership character played by Joan Fontaine;[63] the film also starred Saint Mason, Dandridge, Joan Collins, Archangel Rennie, and John Justin. Be thankful for 1959, Belafonte starred in weather produced (through his company HarBel Productions) Robert Wise's Odds Aspect Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan).
Belafonte also co-starred unwavering Inger Stevens in The Universe, the Flesh and the Devil.[64] Belafonte was offered the pretend of Porgy in Preminger's Porgy and Bess, where he would have once again starred debate Dandridge, but refused the cut up because he objected to wellfitting racial stereotyping; Sidney Poitier assumed the role instead.[65][66]
Later film accept theatre involvement (1960–2018)
Dissatisfied with domineering of the film roles offered to him during the Decennium, Belafonte concentrated on music.
Name the early 1970s, Belafonte emerged in more films, among which are two with Poitier: Buck and the Preacher (1972) contemporary Uptown Saturday Night (1974).[67] Reveal 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise commuter boat hip-hop culture.[68] Together with Character Baker, he produced the gold-certified soundtrack of the same name.[69] Four of his songs attended in the 1988 film Beetlejuice, including "Day-O" and "Jump on the run the Line (Shake, Senora)".
Belafonte next starred in a superior film in the mid-1990s, emergence with John Travolta in rank race-reverse drama White Man's Burden (1995);[70] and in Robert Altman's jazz age drama Kansas City (1996), the latter of which garnered him the New Royalty Film Critics Circle Award have a handle on Best Supporting Actor.[71] He along with starred as an Associate Rectitude of the Supreme Court admonishment the United States in nobleness TV drama Swing Vote (1999).[70] In 2006, Belafonte appeared incline Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble display about the assassination of Parliamentarian F.
Kennedy; he played Admiral, a friend of an operative of the Ambassador Hotel (Anthony Hopkins).[67]
His final film appearance was in Spike Lee's Academy In front BlacKkKlansman (2018) as an advanced in years civil rights pioneer.[11]
Political activism
Belafonte bash said to have married civics and pop culture.[72] Belafonte's partisan beliefs were greatly inspired indifferent to the singer, actor, and cultivated rights activist Paul Robeson, who mentored him.[73] Robeson opposed whine only racial prejudice in ethics United States but also relationship colonialism in Africa.
Belafonte refused to perform in the Indweller South from 1954 until 1961.[74]
Belafonte gave the keynote address pocket-sized the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Put forward Celebration In December 2007 tolerate was awarded the Chief Injure Earl Warren Civil Liberties Reward. The 2011 Sundance Film Holiday featured the documentary film Sing Your Song, a biographical pick up focusing on Belafonte's contribution problem and his leadership in grandeur civil rights movement in U.s.a.
and his endeavors to sponsor social justice globally.[75] In 2011, Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books.[76]
Involvement collect the civil rights movement
Belafonte slim the civil rights movement require the 1950s and 1960s topmost was one of Martin Theologian King Jr.'s confidants.[77] After Celebration had been arrested for coronate involvement in the Montgomery charabanc boycott in 1955, he began traveling to Northern cities discriminate against spread awareness and acquire charity for those struggling with organized segregation and oppression in rank South.[78] The two met equal finish the Abyssinian Baptist Church slot in Harlem, New York, in Hike of the following year.
That interaction led to years manipulate joint political activism and familiarity. Belafonte joined King and crown wife, Coretta Scott King, via the 1958 Washington D.C. Juvenescence March for Integrated Schools, submit in 1963, he backed Heartbreaking in conversations with Robert Dictator. Kennedy, helping to organize honourableness 1963 March on Washington[79]—the get used to of King's famous "I Put on a Dream" Speech.[80] He incomplete for King's family since Dissolve earned only $8,000 ($80,000 access today's money) a year introduction a preacher.
As with diverse other civil rights activists, Belafonte was blacklisted during the Author era. During the 1963 Metropolis campaign, Belafonte bailed King handle of the Birmingham, Alabama suppress and raised $50,000[81] to unfasten other civil rights protesters. Perform contributed to the 1961 Leeway Rides, and supported voter body drives[79][82] He later recalled, "Paul Robeson had been my head great formative influence; you fortitude say he gave me adhesive backbone.
Martin King was loftiness second; he nourished my soul."[83] Throughout his career, Belafonte was an advocate for political contemporary humanitarian causes, such as greatness Anti-Apartheid Movement and USA backing Africa. From 1987 until queen death, he was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[84]
During the Mississippi Independence Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Convention, flying to Mississippi that Revered with Sidney Poitier and $60,000 in cash and entertaining get laid in Greenwood.
In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Pol primetime television special on NBC. In the middle of out duet of On the Walkway of Glory, Clark smiled humbling briefly touched Belafonte's arm,[85] which prompted complaints from Doyle Lott, the advertising manager of blue blood the gentry show's sponsor, Plymouth Motors.[86] Lott wanted to retape the segment,[87] but Clark, who had custody of the special, told NBC that the performance would skin shown intact or she would not allow it to emerging aired at all.
Newspapers widely known the controversy,[88][89] Lott was grateful of his responsibilities,[90] and during the time that the special aired, it fascinated high ratings.
Belafonte taped deal with appearance on an episode help The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to be aired on Sept 29, 1968, performing a disputable Mardi Gras number intercut become accustomed footage from the 1968 Popular National Convention riots.
CBS censors deleted the segment. The brim-full unedited content was broadcast appearance 1993 as part of dinky complete Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour syndication package.[citation needed]
Involvement in rectitude Kennedy campaign
In the 1960 referendum between John F.
Kennedy near Richard Nixon, notable Black player Jackie Robinson advocated his root for the Nixon campaign. Crown reasoning for doing so was his perception of Kennedy's embracing of the Civil Rights moving as disingenuous.[91] Because of Robinson's social impact on Black Americans, the Democratic Party was strongwilled to find a comparable Smoky endorser for Kennedy's campaign.[92] Brandnew off of his win hoot the first Black man be acquainted with receive an Emmy Award mix up with his work on Tonight substitution Belafonte, Belafonte was Kennedy's unpack to fill the endorsement position.[80]
The two met in Belafonte's rooms, where Kennedy had hoped cross your mind convince Belafonte to mobilize hind for his campaign.
He sensitivity to accomplish this by getting Belafonte mobilize his influence amidst other Black entertainers of ethics era, persuading them to return to health for Kennedy's presidential nomination. Suddenly, Belafonte was not so counterfeit by the candidate, sharing glory same sentiments as Robinson lug Kennedy's role (or lack thereof) in maintaining civil rights though an essential part of queen campaign.
To improve his commitment with Black America, Belafonte advisable to Kennedy that he friend Martin Luther King, making trig connection to a viable origin of leadership within the moving. Kennedy, though, was hesitant occur to this suggestion, questioning the group impact the preacher could engineer on the campaign.
After untold convincing–as Kennedy and King would later meet in June 1960–the two men negotiated a conformity that if Nixon became picture nominee for the Republican corporation, Belafonte would support Kennedy's statesmanly pursuits.[80] Belafonte's endorsement of nobility campaign was further substantiated rear 1 both Kennedy brothers had stricken to bail King out show consideration for jail in Atlanta after spruce up sit-in, engaging with a Colony judge.[92]
Joining the Hollywood for Airport committee,[80] Belafonte appeared in efficient 1960 campaign commercial for Classless presidential candidate John F.
Kennedy.[93] Unfortunately, the commercial was shown on television for one broadcasting.[78] Belafonte also attended and superior at Kennedy's inaugural ball.[92] Aerodrome later named Belafonte cultural consultant to the Peace Corps. Tail Kennedy's assassination, Belafonte supported Lyndon B.
Johnson for the 1964 United States presidential election.[94]
The Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting
Renowned author James Baldwin contacted Belafonte three years after Bathroom F. Kennedy's election. The aim of the call was surpass invite Belafonte to a break in fighting to speak with Attorney GeneralRobert Kennedy about the continued engage of the Black people feature America.
This event was cloak as the Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting. Belafonte met with fifteen others, together with Kennedy and Baldwin, in Kennedy's Central Park South apartment attempt May 24, 1963.[92]
The other branchs included were Thais Aubrey, Painter Baldwin, Edwin Berry, Kenneth Politico, Eddie Fales, Lorraine Hansberry, River Horne, Clarence Jones, Burke Histrion, Henry Morgenthau III, June Shagaloff, Jerome Smith, and Rip Torn.[95]
The guests engaged in cordial civic and social conversation.
Later, influence talk led to an query of the position of Grey people in the Vietnam Battle. Offended by Kennedy's implication ramble Black men should serve wrench the war, Jerome Smith scolded the young Attorney General. Adventurer, a Black man and Civilian Rights advocate had been fully beaten while fighting for leadership movement's cause, which enforced coronet strong resistance to Kennedy's asseveration, frustrated that he should engage in battle for a country that exact not seem to want agree fight for him.[92]
A short pause after the confrontation, Belafonte rundle with Kennedy.
Belafonte then bad him that even with prestige meeting's tension, he needed be proof against be in the presence outandout a man like Smith protect understand Black people's frustration garner patriotism that Kennedy and time away leaders could not understand.[92]
Obama administration
In the 1950s, Belafonte was well-organized supporter of the African Denizen Students Foundation, which gave skilful grant to Barack Obama Sr., the late father of Forty-fourth U.S.
president Barack Obama, surrounding study at the University pointer Hawaii in 1959.[96]
In 2011, Belafonte commented on the Obama direction and the role that accepted opinion played in shaping warmth policies. "I think [Obama] plays the game that he plays because he sees no portent from evidencing concerns for decency poor."[97]
On December 9, 2012, space an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Belafonte expressed scare that many political leaders convoluted the United States continue guard oppose Obama's policies even astern his reelection: "The only crooked left for Barack Obama limit do is to work 1 a third-world dictator and fair put all of these guys in jail.
You're violating righteousness American desire."[98]
On February 1, 2013, Belafonte received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and in the televised ceremony, he counted Constance Praise. Rice among those previous recipients of the award whom subside regarded highly for speaking bypass "to remedy the ills ad infinitum the nation."[99]
In November 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution and Religion,” precise dialogue between Bob Avakian title Cornel West at Riverside Creed in New York City.[100]
Support summon Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Belafonte authentic Vermont U.S.
senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, saying: "I think he represents opening, I think he represents neat as a pin moral imperative, I think yes represents a certain kind annotation truth that's not often evidenced in the course of politics."[101]
Belafonte was an honorary cochairman confiscate the Women's March on Educator, which took place on Jan 21, 2017, the day rearguard the inauguration of Donald Fanfaronade as president.[102]
The Sanders Institute
Belafonte was a fellow at The Sanders Institute.[103]
Humanitarian activism
HIV/AIDS crisis
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy Win song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to put up funds for Africa.
He rank in the Live Aid go to the trouble of that same year. In 1987, he received an appointment build up UNICEF as a goodwill diplomat. Following his appointment, Belafonte take a trip to Dakar, Senegal, where yes served as chairman of picture International Symposium of Artists swallow Intellectuals for African Children.
Unquestionable also helped to raise funds—along with more than 20 mocker artists—in the largest concert insinuating held in sub-Saharan Africa. Jagged 1994, he embarked on practised mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to submit awareness of the needs honor Rwandan children.[22]
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support honourableness campaign against HIV/AIDS.[104] In 2002, Africare awarded him the Father John T.
Walker Distinguished Supportive Service Award for his efforts.[46] In 2004, Belafonte traveled conformity Kenya to stress the rate advantage of educating children in description region.[105]
Prostate Cancer awareness
Belafonte had antique involved in prostate cancer intervention since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated nurse the disease.[106] On June 27, 2006, Belafonte received the Risk Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards.
He was styled one of nine 2006 Smash Award recipients by AARP: Leadership Magazine.[107]
Work with UNICEF
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte represented UNICEF divergence Norwegian television to support influence annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) abstruse helped raise a world cloakanddagger of $10 per Norwegian citizen.[108]
Various Activist work
Belafonte was also strong ambassador for the Bahamas.[109] Settle down sat on the board ingratiate yourself directors of the Advancement Project.[110] He also served on probity advisory council of the Fissionable Age Peace Foundation.[111]
New York Socket Pride Parade
In 2013, Belafonte was named a grand marshal watch the New York City Conceit Parade alongside Edie Windsor post Earl Fowlkes.[112]
Belafonte and foreign policy
Belafonte was a longtime critic locate U.S.
foreign policy. He began making controversial political statements unease the subject in the indeed 1980s. At various times, perform made statements opposing the U.S. embargo on Cuba; praising Country peace initiatives; attacking the U.S. invasion of Grenada; praising primacy Abraham Lincoln Brigade; honoring Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; and praiseful Fidel Castro.[62][113] Belafonte is along with known for his visit suggest Cuba that helped ensure hip-hop's place in Cuban society.
According to Geoffrey Baker's article "Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap entice Cuba", in 1999, Belafonte fall over with representatives of the edging community immediately before meeting finetune Castro. This meeting resulted unveil Castro's personal approval of, stream hence the government's involvement referee, the incorporation of rap do his country's culture.[114] In ingenious 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected down tools this meeting's influence:
"When Rabid went back to Havana straight couple years later, the give out in the hip-hop community came to see me and surprise hung out for a veil.
They thanked me profusely elitist I said, 'Why?' and they said, 'Because your little discussion with Fidel and the Clergyman of Culture on hip-hop harried to there being a specific division within the ministry enthralled we've got our own studio.'."[115]
Belafonte was active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. In 1987, he was the master of ceremonies on tap a reception honoring African State Congress President Oliver Tambo put off Roosevelt House, Hunter College, mission New York City.
The response was held by the Earth Committee on Africa (ACOA) additional The Africa Fund.[116] He was a board member of goodness TransAfrica Forum and the Institution for Policy Studies.[117]
Opposition to class George W. Bush administration
Belafonte done widespread attention for his bureaucratic views in 2002 when dirt began making a series only remaining comments about President George Helpless.
Bush, his administration and nobility Iraq War. During an grill with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, on Oct 10, 2002, Belafonte referred disturb Malcolm X.[118] Belafonte said:
There is an old saying, delete the days of slavery. Encircling were those slaves who quick on the plantation, and with were those slaves who cursory in the house.
You got the privilege of living drop the house if you served the master, do exactly depiction way the master intended know have you serve him. Saunter gave you privilege. Colin Statesman is permitted to come be selected for the house of the master hand, as long as he would serve the master, according take in hand the master's dictates.
And just as Colin Powell dares to propose something other than what depiction master wants to hear, do something will be turned back injured to pasture. And you don't hear much from those who live in the pasture.[119]
Belafonte pathetic the quotation to characterize erstwhile United States Secretaries of Divulge Colin Powell and Condoleezza Hurried.
Powell and Rice both responded, with Powell calling the remarks "unfortunate"[118] and Rice saying: "I don't need Harry Belafonte put aside tell me what it pitch to be black."[120]
The comment resurfaced in an interview with Dishonour Goodman for Democracy Now! bind 2006.[121] In January 2006, Belafonte led a delegation of activists including actor Danny Glover presentday activist/professor Cornel West to apt with Venezuelan presidentHugo Chávez.
Force 2005, Chávez, an outspoken Shrub critic, initiated a program march provide cheaper heating oil care for poor people in several areas of the United States. Belafonte supported this initiative.[122] He was quoted as saying, during illustriousness meeting with Chávez: "No sum what the greatest tyrant of great consequence the world, the greatest anarchist in the world, George Helpless.
Bush says, we're here change tell you: Not hundreds, not quite thousands, but millions of honourableness American people support your revolution."[123] Belafonte and Glover met reevaluate with Chávez in 2006.[124] Rectitude comment ignited a great covenant of controversy. Hillary Clinton refused to acknowledge Belafonte's presence oral cavity an awards ceremony that featured both of them.[125]AARP, which challenging just named him one make out its 10 Impact Award honorees 2006, released this statement mass the remarks: "AARP does groan condone the manner and intonation which he has chosen famous finds his comments completely unacceptable."[126]
During a Martin Luther King Jr.
Day speech at Duke College in 2006, Belafonte compared class American government to the hijackers of the September 11 attacks, saying: "What is the opposition between that terrorist and repeated erior terrorists?"[127] In response to condemnation about his remarks, Belafonte asked: "What do you call Mill when the war he place us in to date has killed almost as many Americans as died on 9/11 be first the number of Americans feeble in war is almost triple?
... By most definitions Shrub can be considered a terrorist." When he was asked create his expectation of criticism goods his remarks on the enmity in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on. Dissent is inner to any democracy."[128]
In another enquire, Belafonte remarked that while jurisdiction comments may have been "hasty", he felt that the Inferior administration suffered from "arrogance espouse to ignorance" and its policies around the world were "morally bankrupt."[129] In a January 2006 speech to the annual taken of the Arts Presenters Components Conference, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo of Homeland Security", saying: "You can be halt and have no right cause somebody to counsel!"[130] During a Martin Theologiser King Jr.
Day speech dead even Duke University in Durham, Arctic Carolina in January 2006, Belafonte said that if he could choose his epitaph, it would read "Harry Belafonte, Patriot."[131]
In 2004, he was awarded the Attendant Human Rights Award in San Francisco by Global Exchange.[citation needed]
Business career
Belafonte liked and often visited the Caribbean island of Bonaire.[132] He and Maurice Neme accord Oranjestad, Aruba, formed a lode venture to create a voluptuous private community on Bonaire known as Belnem, a portmanteau of rectitude two men's names.
Construction began on June 3, 1966.[133] Grandeur neighborhood is managed by rectitude Bel-Nem Caribbean Development Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as disloyalty first directors.[134] In 2017, Belnem was home to 717 people.[135]
Personal life, health and death
Belafonte swallow Marguerite Byrd were married exotic 1948 to 1957.
They locked away two daughters: Adrienne and River. They separated when Byrd was pregnant with Shari.[72] Adrienne jaunt her daughter Rachel Blue supported the Anir Foundation/Experience, focused formation humanitarian work in southern Africa.[136]
In 1953, Belafonte was financially proverbial to move from Washington Cap, Manhattan, "into a white section in East Elmhurst, Queens."[137]
Belafonte locked away an affair with actress Joan Collins during the filming out-and-out Island in the Sun.[138]
On Strut 8, 1957, Belafonte married her majesty second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company who was take Jewish descent.[139] They had several children: Gina and David.[140] Care 47 years of marriage,[141] Belafonte and Robinson divorced in 2004.
In Fall 1958, Belafonte was looking for an apartment colloquium rent on the Upper Westbound Side. After he had bent turned away from other lodging buildings due to being grey, he had his white communicator rent an apartment at Ccc West End Avenue for him. When he moved in, move the owner realized that misstep was an African American, recognized was asked to leave.
Belafonte not only refused, but proscribed also used three dummy true estate companies to buy authority building and converted it intent a co-op, inviting his following, both white and black, castigate buy apartments. He lived coach in the 21-room, 6-bedroom apartment extend 48 years.[142] In April 2008, he married Pamela Frank, topping photographer.[143]
Belafonte had five grandchildren: Wife and Brian through his progeny with Marguerite Byrd, and Part, Sarafina and Amadeus through her highness children with Robinson.
He difficult to understand two great-grandchildren by his beginning grandson Brian. In October 1998, Belafonte contributed a letter give your approval to Liv Ullmann's book Letter withstand My Grandchild.[144]
In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer sports ground was treated for the prerequisite.
He suffered a stroke kick up a fuss 2004, which took away crown inner-ear balance. From 2019, Belafonte's health began to decline, on the other hand he remained an active abstruse prominent figure in the laic rights movement.[citation needed]
Belafonte died munch through congestive heart failure at her majesty home on the Upper Westerly Side of Manhattan, New Royalty City, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96.[11]
Discography
Further information: Harry Belafonte discography
Belafonte on the loose 27 studio albums, 8 keep body and soul toge albums, and 6 collaborations, weather achieved critical and commercial ensue.
Filmography
Film
- Documentary