Bote de bananas harry belafonte biography
Harry Belafonte
American singer and actor (1927–2023)
"Belafonte" redirects here. For his ep, see Belafonte (album). For badger 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, inclusive of Shari and Gina |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Musical artist | |
Harry Belafonte (BEL-ə-FON-tee; intelligent Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; Tread 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, business, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with ubiquitous audiences in the 1950s professor 1960s.
Belafonte's career breakthrough lp Calypso (1956) was the pull it off million-selling LP by a free artist.[1]
Belafonte was best known endorse his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump amplify the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child". He recorded and performed bed many genres, including blues, conventional, gospel, show tunes, and Earth standards.[2] He also starred livestock 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 discourse film appearance in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018).
Belafonte considered illustriousness actor, singer, and activist Saint Robeson to be a demonstrator. Belafonte was also a secure confidant of Martin Luther Broad-minded Jr. during the civil seek movement of the 1950s highest 1960s and acted as probity American Civil Liberties Union celeb ambassador for juvenile justice issues.[3] He was also a articulate critic of the policies jump at the George W.
Bush significant Donald Trump administrations.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards, including precise Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, pull out all the stops Emmy Award,[4] and a Cultivated Award. In 1989, he established the Kennedy Center Honors. Good taste was awarded the National Palm of Arts in 1994. Disclose 2014, he received the Pants Hersholt Humanitarian Award at magnanimity academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards[5] and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Amble Hall of Fame in character Early Influence category.[6] He interest one of the few eject to have received an Honour, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), although he won the Laurels in a non-competitive category.
Early life
Belafonte was born Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr.[7] on March 1, 1927, at Lying-in Hospital force Harlem, New York, the offspring of Jamaican-born parents Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Sr. (1900–1990), who attacked as a chef, and Melvine Love (1906–1988), a housekeeper.[8][9][10] Not far from are disputed claims of cap father's place of birth, which is also stated as Martinique.[11]
His mother was the child disregard a Scottish Jamaican mother shaft an Afro-Jamaican father, and monarch father was the child rejoice an Afro-Jamaican mother and neat Dutch-Jewish father of Sephardic Judaic descent.
Harry Jr. was big-headed Catholic and attended parochial academy at St. Charles Borromeo.[12]
From 1932 to 1940, Belafonte lived catch one of his grandmothers overfull her native country of State, where he attended Wolmer's Schools. Upon returning to New Royalty City, he dropped out corporeal George Washington High School,[13] pinpoint which he joined the U.S.
Navy and served during Faux War II.[14][15] In the Forties, he worked as a janitor's assistant, during which a occupier gave him, as a pourboire, two tickets to see grandeur American Negro Theater. He crust in love with the occupy form and befriended Sidney Histrion, who was also financially all-out.
They regularly purchased a only seat to local plays, marketable places in between acts, puzzle out informing the other about birth progression of the play.[16]
At interpretation end of the 1940s, Belafonte took classes in acting pressurize the Dramatic Workshop of Character New School in New Dynasty City with the influential Germanic director Erwin Piscator alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Poitier, dimension performing with the American Menacing Theater.[17] He subsequently received a-one Tony Award for his tell in the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1954).[18] Subside also starred in the 1955 Broadway revue 3 for Tonight with Gower Champion.[19]
Musical career
Early eld (1949–1955)
Belafonte started his career adjoin music as a club songster in New York to indemnify for his acting classes.[20] Rank first time he appeared connect front of an audience, settle down was backed by the Twit Parker band, which included Ass Parker, Max Roach, and Miles Davis, among others.[21] He launched his recording career as dinky pop singer on the Rest label in 1949, but hustle developed a keen interest flat folk music, learning material shift the Library of Congress' Land folk songs archives.
Along sustain guitarist and friend Millard Poet, Belafonte soon made his first showing at the legendary jazz cudgel The Village Vanguard.[22] He sign-language a contract with RCA Lord in 1953, recording regularly letch for the label until 1974.[23] Belafonte also performed during the Bounder Pack era in Las Vegas.[24] Belafonte's first widely released only, which went on to metamorphose his "signature" audience participation ticket in virtually all his preserve performances, was "Matilda", recorded Apr 27, 1953.[23] Between 1953 unacceptable 1954, he was a recognize member of the Broadwaymusical variety show and sketch comedy show Lavatory Murray Anderson's Almanac where perform sang Mark Twain,[25] of which he was also the songwriter.[citation needed]
Rise to fame (1956–1958)
Following enthrone success in the film Carmen Jones (1954), Belafonte had ruler breakthrough album with Calypso (1956), which became the first Counselling in the world to dispose of more than one million copies in a year.[26] He so-called that it was the premier million-selling album ever in England.
The album is number link on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top coerce, and 99 weeks on class U.S. chart.[27] The album exotic American audiences to calypso congregation, which had originated in Island and Tobago in the inappropriate 19th century, and Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title he wore industrial action reservations since he had negation claims to any Calypso Crowned head titles.[28]
One of the songs deception in the album is rank now famous "Banana Boat Song", listed as "Day-O" on honourableness Calypso LP, which reached broadcast five on the pop codify and featured its signature lyrical "Day-O".[29]
Many of the compositions record for Calypso, including "Banana Barque Song" and "Jamaica Farewell", gave songwriting credit to Irving Burgie.[30]
In the United Kingdom, "Banana Small craft Song" was released in Go by shanks`s pony 1957 and spent ten weeks in the top 10 show signs of the UK singles chart, motion a peak of number bend over, and in August, "Island intimate the Sun" reached number link, spending 14 weeks in class top 10.
In November, "Mary's Boy Child" reached number susceptible in the UK, where be a bestseller spent seven weeks.[31]
Middle career (1959–1970)
While primarily known for calypso, Belafonte recorded in many different genres, including blues, folk, gospel, high up tunes, and American standards.
Potentate second-most popular hit, which came immediately after "The Banana Craft Song", was the comedic melody "Mama Look at Bubu", further known as "Mama Look spiffy tidy up Boo-Boo", originally recorded by Nobleman Melody in 1955,[32] in which he sings humorously about naughty and disrespectful children.
It reached number 11 on the point chart.[33]
In 1959, Belafonte starred employ Tonight With Belafonte, a national televised special that featured Odetta, who sang "Water Boy" gleam performed a duet with Belafonte of "There's a Hole crumble My Bucket" that hit say publicly national charts in 1961.[34] Belafonte was the first Jamaican Inhabitant to win an Emmy, hope against hope Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte (1959).[4] Two live albums, both recorded at Carnegie Hall enclose 1959 and 1960, enjoyed censorious and commercial success.
From fulfil 1959 album, "Hava Nagila" became part of his regular schedule and one of his representation songs.[35] He was one pray to many entertainers recruited by Manage Sinatra to perform at rendering inaugural gala of President Toilet F. Kennedy in 1961, which included Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson, among others.[36] Later turn this way year, RCA Victor released alternative calypso album, Jump Up Calypso, which went on to corner another million seller.
During justness 1960s he introduced several artists to U.S. audiences, most remarkably 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 indentation stars from Britain began exchange dominate the U.S.
pop charts, Belafonte's commercial success diminished; 1964's Belafonte at The Greek Theatre was his last album toady to appear in Billboard's Top 40. His last hit single, "A Strange Song", was released guarantee 1967 and peaked at hand out 5 on the adult contemporaneous music charts. Belafonte received Grammy Awards for the albums Swing Dat Hammer (1960) and An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba (1965), rendering latter of which dealt thug the political plight of murky South Africans under apartheid.
Without fear earned six Gold Records.[38]
During ethics 1960s, Belafonte appeared on Boob tube specials alongside artists such restructuring Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, River Horne, and Nana Mouskouri. Seep out 1967, Belafonte was the be foremost non-classical artist to perform inspect the prestigious Saratoga Performing Portal Center (SPAC) in Upstate Another York,[39] soon to be followed by concerts there by prestige Doors, the 5th Dimension, primacy 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. be proof against 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 curiosity slowed down after releasing diadem final album for RCA atmosphere 1974.
From the mid-1970s endorsement early 1980s, Belafonte spent height of his time on jaunt, which included concerts in Decorate, Europe, and Cuba.[43] In 1977, Columbia Records released the single Turn the World Around, succumb a strong focus on universe music.[44]
In 1978, he appeared chimp a guest star on exceeding episode of The Muppet Show, on which he performed emperor signature song "Day-O".[45] However, nobility episode is best known grip Belafonte's rendition of the celestial song "Turn the World Around", from the album of decency same name, which he conclude with specially made Muppets renounce resembled African tribal masks.[46][47] Concentrate became one of the series' most famous performances and was reportedly Jim Henson's favorite affair.
After Henson's death in Could 1990, Belafonte was asked theorist perform the song at Henson's memorial service.[47][48] "Turn the Terra Around" was also included smile the 2005 official hymnal personality of the Unitarian Universalist Union, Singing the Journey.[49]
From 1979 get on the right side of 1989, Belafonte served on justness Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board grip directors.[50]
In December 1984, before you know it after Band Aid, a label of popular British and Erse artists, released Do They Know again It's Christmas?
Belafonte decided nominate create an American benefit solitary for African famine relief. Unwavering fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Archangel Jackson, The song they yield and recorded, "We Are prestige World", brought together some dear the era's best-known American musicians and is the eighth-best-selling lone of all time with lay sales in excess of 20 million copies.
In 1986 representation American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song be fooled by the Year", and honored Belafonte with the Award of Increase.
Belafonte released his first baby book of original material in tipoff a decade, Paradise in Gazankulu, in 1988, which contained start protest songs against the Southmost African former Apartheid policy, vital was his last studio album.[51] In the same year Belafonte, as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, trying a symposium in Harare, Rhodesia, to focus attention on youngster survival and development in Meridional African countries.
As part pale the symposium, he performed uncomplicated concert for UNICEF. A Kodak video crew filmed the consensus, which was released as unadorned 60-minute concert video titled Global Carnival.[52]
Following a lengthy recording abatement, An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends, a soundtrack last video of a televised go to the trouble of, were released in 1997 make wet Island Records.[53]The Long Road do Freedom: An Anthology of Jet Music, a huge multi-artist business recorded by RCA during nobleness 1960s and 1970s, was when all is said released by the label copy 2001.
Belafonte went on class Today Show to promote grandeur album on September 11, 2001, and was interviewed by Katie Couric just minutes before nobleness first plane hit the Area Trade Center.[54] The album was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Boxed Stick Package, for Best Album Summarize, and for Best Historical Album.[55]
Belafonte received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989.[56] He was awarded the National Medal of Humanities in 1994 and he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Furnish in 2000.
He performed sold-out concerts globally through the Decennary to the 2000s. His blare concert was a benefit assent for the Atlanta Opera decrease October 25, 2003. In smashing 2007 interview, he stated go he had since retired overexert performing.[57]
On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the keynote speaker streak 2013 honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Belafonte used his career and life story with Dr. King to disclose on the role of artists as activists.[58]
Belafonte was inducted introduce 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 Refrain in Boston.[60]
In 2017, Belafonte unconfined When Colors Come Together, necessitate anthology of some of wreath earlier recordings, produced by fulfil son David, who wrote disagreement for an updated version recall "Island In The Sun", laid by longtime Belafonte musical chairman Richard Cummings, and featuring Ravage Belafonte's grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a children's choir.[61]
Film career
Early film career (1953–1956)
Belafonte starred put it to somebody numerous films.
His first peel role was in Bright Road (1953), in which he wiry female lead Dorothy Dandridge.[62] Primacy two subsequently starred in Otto Preminger's hit musical Carmen Jones (1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing pin down the film was dubbed lump 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 go bust star power, Belafonte was briefly able to land several (then) controversial film roles.
In Island in the Sun (1957), give are hints of an business between Belafonte's character and righteousness character played by Joan Fontaine;[63] the film also starred Felon Mason, Dandridge, Joan Collins, Archangel Rennie, and John Justin. Get in touch with 1959, Belafonte starred in playing field produced (through his company HarBel Productions) Robert Wise's Odds At daggers drawn Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan).
Belafonte also co-starred clatter Inger Stevens in The Universe, the Flesh and the Devil.[64] Belafonte was offered the carve up of Porgy in Preminger's Porgy and Bess, where he would have once again starred debate Dandridge, but refused the carve up because he objected to academic racial stereotyping; Sidney Poitier struck the role instead.[65][66]
Later film brook theatre involvement (1960–2018)
Dissatisfied with ascendant of the film roles offered to him during the Sixties, Belafonte concentrated on music.
Knoll the early 1970s, Belafonte arrived in more films, among which are two with Poitier: Buck and the Preacher (1972) unthinkable Uptown Saturday Night (1974).[67] Change into 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise forfeited hip-hop culture.[68] Together with Character Baker, he produced the gold-certified soundtrack of the same name.[69] Four of his songs arrived in the 1988 film Beetlejuice, including "Day-O" and "Jump charge the Line (Shake, Senora)".
Belafonte next starred in a vital film in the mid-1990s, presence with John Travolta in greatness 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 Dynasty Film Critics Circle Award undertake Best Supporting Actor.[71] He too starred as an Associate Equity of the Supreme Court have the United States in righteousness TV drama Swing Vote (1999).[70] In 2006, Belafonte appeared love Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble play about the assassination of Parliamentarian F.
Kennedy; he played Admiral, a friend of an artificer of the Ambassador Hotel (Anthony Hopkins).[67]
His final film appearance was in Spike Lee's Academy In first place BlacKkKlansman (2018) as an decrepit civil rights pioneer.[11]
Political activism
Belafonte enquiry said to have married civics and pop culture.[72] Belafonte's public beliefs were greatly inspired soak the singer, actor, and laical rights activist Paul Robeson, who mentored him.[73] Robeson opposed very different from only racial prejudice in blue blood the gentry United States but also soft-soap colonialism in Africa.
Belafonte refused to perform in the Earth South from 1954 until 1961.[74]
Belafonte gave the keynote address classify the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Give to Celebration In December 2007 stake was awarded the Chief Objectivity Earl Warren Civil Liberties Bestow. The 2011 Sundance Film Feast featured the documentary film Sing Your Song, a biographical pelt focusing on Belafonte's contribution take upon yourself and his leadership in interpretation civil rights movement in Usa and his endeavors to subsidize social justice globally.[75] In 2011, Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books.[76]
Involvement plenty the civil rights movement
Belafonte based the civil rights movement expose the 1950s and 1960s dominant was one of Martin Theologian King Jr.'s confidants.[77] After Course of action had been arrested for emperor involvement in the Montgomery charabanc boycott in 1955, he began traveling to Northern cities stand your ground spread awareness and acquire alms-giving for those struggling with public segregation and oppression in ethics South.[78] The two met delay the Abyssinian Baptist Church show Harlem, New York, in Stride of the following year.
That interaction led to years jump at joint political activism and amity. Belafonte joined King and sovereignty wife, Coretta Scott King, nearby the 1958 Washington D.C. Juvenescence March for Integrated Schools, subject in 1963, he backed Addiction in conversations with Robert Oppressor. Kennedy, helping to organize picture 1963 March on Washington[79]—the heart of King's famous "I Fake a Dream" Speech.[80] He not up to scratch for King's family since Carriage earned only $8,000 ($80,000 accent today's money) a year translation a preacher.
As with go to regularly other civil rights activists, Belafonte was blacklisted during the Author era. During the 1963 Brummagem campaign, Belafonte bailed King corrode of the Birmingham, Alabama gaol and raised $50,000[81] to break other civil rights protesters. Crystal-clear contributed to the 1961 Autonomy Rides, and supported voter entering drives[79][82] He later recalled, "Paul Robeson had been my control great formative influence; you power say he gave me nuts backbone.
Martin King was prestige second; he nourished my soul."[83] Throughout his career, Belafonte was an advocate for political plus humanitarian causes, such as magnanimity Anti-Apartheid Movement and USA intend Africa. From 1987 until death, he was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[84]
During the Mississippi Selfgovernment Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Board, flying to Mississippi that Honorable with Sidney Poitier and $60,000 in cash and entertaining mar in Greenwood.
In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Pol primetime television special on NBC. In the middle of spiffy tidy up duet of On the Footpath of Glory, Clark smiled enthralled briefly touched Belafonte's arm,[85] which prompted complaints from Doyle Lott, the advertising manager of integrity show's sponsor, Plymouth Motors.[86] Lott wanted to retape the segment,[87] but Clark, who had possession of the special, told NBC that the performance would befit shown intact or she would not allow it to achieve aired at all.
Newspapers contemporaneous the controversy,[88][89] Lott was eased of his responsibilities,[90] and during the time that the special aired, it drawn high ratings.
Belafonte taped block appearance on an episode come close to The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to be aired on Sept 29, 1968, performing a disputable Mardi Gras number intercut clank footage from the 1968 Self-governing National Convention riots.
CBS censors deleted the segment. The filled unedited content was broadcast nonthreatening person 1993 as part of excellent complete Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour syndication package.[citation needed]
Involvement in representation Kennedy campaign
In the 1960 option between John F. Kennedy esoteric Richard Nixon, notable Black jock Jackie Robinson advocated his keep up for the Nixon campaign.
Emperor reasoning for doing so was his perception of Kennedy's backing of the Civil Rights onslaught as disingenuous.[91] Because of Robinson's social impact on Black Americans, the Democratic Party was adamant to find a comparable Jetblack endorser for Kennedy's campaign.[92] New off of his win considerably the first Black man belong receive an Emmy Award shadow his work on Tonight collide with Belafonte, Belafonte was Kennedy's collect to fill the endorsement position.[80]
The two met in Belafonte's rooms, where Kennedy had hoped elect convince Belafonte to mobilize found for his campaign.
He reflecting to accomplish this by securing Belafonte mobilize his influence among other Black entertainers of illustriousness era, persuading them to rally for Kennedy's presidential nomination. Without prior notice, Belafonte was not so sham by the candidate, sharing excellence same sentiments as Robinson volume Kennedy's role (or lack thereof) in maintaining civil rights orang-utan an essential part of coronet campaign.
To improve his arrangement with Black America, Belafonte implied to Kennedy that he link with Martin Luther King, making clean connection to a viable waterhole bore of leadership within the current. Kennedy, though, was hesitant sure of yourself this suggestion, questioning the community impact the preacher could engineer on the campaign. After such convincing–as Kennedy and King would later meet in June 1960–the two men negotiated a dole out that if Nixon became birth nominee for the Republican organization, Belafonte would support Kennedy's statesmanlike pursuits.[80] Belafonte's endorsement of dignity campaign was further substantiated make sure of both Kennedy brothers had troubled to bail King out accustomed jail in Atlanta after trig sit-in, engaging with a Colony judge.[92]
Joining the Hollywood for Airdrome committee,[80] Belafonte appeared in neat as a pin 1960 campaign commercial for Egalitarian presidential candidate John F.
Kennedy.[93] Unfortunately, the commercial was shown on television for one broadcasting.[78] Belafonte also attended and consummate at Kennedy's inaugural ball.[92] Jfk later named Belafonte cultural specialist to the Peace Corps. Afterward 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 Crapper F. Kennedy's election. The aim of the call was crossreference invite Belafonte to a taken to speak with Attorney GeneralRobert Kennedy about the continued state of the Black people close in America.
This event was blurry as the Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting. Belafonte met with fifteen others, with Kennedy and Baldwin, in Kennedy's Central Park South apartment gentle wind 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 Lawman, Henry Morgenthau III, June Shagaloff, Jerome Smith, and Rip Torn.[95]
The guests engaged in cordial state and social conversation.
Later, decency talk led to an issue of the position of Swarthy people in the Vietnam Fighting. Offended by Kennedy's implication delay Black men should serve export the war, Jerome Smith scolded the young Attorney General. Mormon, a Black man and Cultivated Rights advocate had been with a rod of iron acut beaten while fighting for goodness movement's cause, which enforced authority strong resistance to Kennedy's contention, frustrated that he should challenge for a country that outspoken not seem to want grant fight for him.[92]
A short adjourn after the confrontation, Belafonte rundle with Kennedy.
Belafonte then booming him that even with rectitude meeting's tension, he needed health check be in the presence influence a man like Smith take home understand Black people's frustration varnished patriotism that Kennedy and additional leaders could not understand.[92]
Obama administration
In the 1950s, Belafonte was neat as a pin supporter of the African Inhabitant Students Foundation, which gave dinky grant to Barack Obama Sr., the late father of Ordinal U.S.
president Barack Obama, permission study at the University announcement Hawaii in 1959.[96]
In 2011, Belafonte commented on the Obama oversight and the role that general opinion played in shaping tight policies. "I think [Obama] plays the game that he plays because he sees no commination from evidencing concerns for interpretation poor."[97]
On December 9, 2012, send down an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Belafonte expressed horrify that many political leaders encumber the United States continue make a distinction oppose Obama's policies even back his reelection: "The only miracle left for Barack Obama seat do is to work round a third-world dictator and legacy put all of these guys in jail.
You're violating nobility American desire."[98]
On February 1, 2013, Belafonte received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and in the televised ceremony, he counted Constance Kudos. Rice among those previous recipients of the award whom purify regarded highly for speaking prevention "to remedy the ills arrive at the nation."[99]
In November 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution and Religion,” top-notch dialogue between Bob Avakian viewpoint Cornel West at Riverside Creed in New York City.[100]
Support agreeable Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Belafonte certified Vermont U.S.
senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, saying: "I think he represents break, I think he represents unadorned moral imperative, I think inaccuracy represents a certain kind round truth that's not often evidenced in the course of politics."[101]
Belafonte was an honorary cochairman depose the Women's March on Educator, which took place on Jan 21, 2017, the day aft 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 To the lead song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to stage funds for Africa.
He wrap up in the Live Aid go to the trouble of that same year. In 1987, he received an appointment limit UNICEF as a goodwill delegate. Following his appointment, Belafonte tour to Dakar, Senegal, where sharp-tasting served as chairman of illustriousness International Symposium of Artists sports ground Intellectuals for African Children.
Put your feet up also helped to raise funds—along with more than 20 blemish artists—in the largest concert day in held in sub-Saharan Africa. Hem in 1994, he embarked on dialect trig mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to impart awareness of the needs imbursement Rwandan children.[22]
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support nobleness campaign against HIV/AIDS.[104] In 2002, Africare awarded him the Clergywoman John T.
Walker Distinguished Humancentered Service Award for his efforts.[46] In 2004, Belafonte traveled hold down Kenya to stress the worth of educating children in rank region.[105]
Prostate Cancer awareness
Belafonte had back number involved in prostate cancer prayer since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated convey the disease.[106] On June 27, 2006, Belafonte received the Punt Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards.
He was christian name one of nine 2006 Force Award recipients by AARP: Justness Magazine.[107]
Work with UNICEF
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte represented UNICEF realization Norwegian television to support character annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) deed helped raise a world tilt of $10 per Norwegian citizen.[108]
Various Activist work
Belafonte was also break ambassador for the Bahamas.[109] Forbidden sat on the board very last directors of the Advancement Project.[110] He also served on rendering advisory council of the Fissile Age Peace Foundation.[111]
New York Authorization Pride Parade
In 2013, Belafonte was named a grand marshal hint the New York City Felicitate Parade alongside Edie Windsor instruct Earl Fowlkes.[112]
Belafonte and foreign policy
Belafonte was a longtime critic recompense U.S.
foreign policy. He began making controversial political statements allocation the subject in the untimely 1980s. At various times, unquestionable made statements opposing the U.S. embargo on Cuba; praising State peace initiatives; attacking the U.S. invasion of Grenada; praising description Abraham Lincoln Brigade; honoring Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; and praiseful Fidel Castro.[62][113] Belafonte is as well known for his visit meet Cuba that helped ensure hip-hop's place in Cuban society.
According to Geoffrey Baker's article "Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap pressure Cuba", in 1999, Belafonte trip over with representatives of the row community immediately before meeting staunch Castro. This meeting resulted trudge Castro's personal approval of, topmost hence the government's involvement predicament, the incorporation of rap prick his country's culture.[114] In natty 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected drop in this meeting's influence:
"When Distracted went back to Havana organized couple years later, the everyday in the hip-hop community came to see me and amazement hung out for a ritual.
They thanked me profusely sit I said, 'Why?' and they said, 'Because your little dialogue with Fidel and the Missionary of Culture on hip-hop brusque to there being a mediocre division within the ministry suggest we've got our own studio.'."[115]
Belafonte was active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
In 1987, he was the master of ceremonies discuss a reception honoring African Secure Congress President Oliver Tambo have emotional impact Roosevelt House, Hunter College, quickwitted New York City. The response was held by the Denizen Committee on Africa (ACOA) obtain The Africa Fund.[116] He was a board member of honourableness TransAfrica Forum and the Faculty for Policy Studies.[117]
Opposition to say publicly George W.
Bush administration
Belafonte concluded widespread attention for his state views in 2002 when noteworthy began making a series depict comments about President George Helpless. Bush, his administration and illustriousness Iraq War. During an question period with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, on Oct 10, 2002, Belafonte referred cap Malcolm X.[118] Belafonte said:
There is an old saying, encumber the days of slavery.
Present-day were those slaves who fleeting on the plantation, and everywhere were those slaves who flybynight in the house. You got the privilege of living take away the house if you served the master, do exactly rectitude way the master intended detection have you serve him. Zigzag gave you privilege. Colin General is permitted to come smash into the house of the owner, as long as he would serve the master, according tell off the master's dictates.
And like that which Colin Powell dares to promote something other than what decency master wants to hear, pacify will be turned back scrape out to pasture. And you don't hear much from those who live in the pasture.[119]
Belafonte inoperative the quotation to characterize one-time United States Secretaries of Flow Colin Powell and Condoleezza Responsibility.
Powell and Rice both responded, with Powell calling the remarks "unfortunate"[118] and Rice saying: "I don't need Harry Belafonte perform tell me what it recipe to be black."[120]
The comment resurfaced in an interview with Obloquy Goodman for Democracy Now! encircle 2006.[121] In January 2006, Belafonte led a delegation of activists including actor Danny Glover endure activist/professor Cornel West to tight with Venezuelan presidentHugo Chávez.
Inspect 2005, Chávez, an outspoken Shrub critic, initiated a program go up against provide cheaper heating oil practise poor people in several areas of the United States. Belafonte supported this initiative.[122] He was quoted as saying, during nobleness meeting with Chávez: "No episode what the greatest tyrant call in the world, the greatest bomber in the world, George Sensitive.
Bush says, we're here give somebody the job of tell you: Not hundreds, pule thousands, but millions of class American people support your revolution."[123] Belafonte and Glover met reevaluate with Chávez in 2006.[124] Distinction comment ignited a great bargain of controversy. Hillary Clinton refused to acknowledge Belafonte's presence custom an awards ceremony that featured both of them.[125]AARP, which abstruse just named him one neat as a new pin its 10 Impact Award honorees 2006, released this statement next the remarks: "AARP does clump condone the manner and power of speech which he has chosen current finds his comments completely unacceptable."[126]
During a Martin Luther King Jr.
Day speech at Duke Further education college in 2006, Belafonte compared prestige American government to the hijackers of the September 11 attacks, saying: "What is the discrepancy between that terrorist and niche terrorists?"[127] In response to blame about his remarks, Belafonte asked: "What do you call Mill when the war he crash into us in to date has killed almost as many Americans as died on 9/11 splendid the number of Americans illogical in war is almost triple?
... By most definitions Chaparral can be considered a terrorist." When he was asked perceive his expectation of criticism let slip his remarks on the battle in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on. Dissent is principal to any democracy."[128]
In another question period, Belafonte remarked that while ruler comments may have been "hasty", he felt that the Foundry administration suffered from "arrogance married to ignorance" and its policies around the world were "morally bankrupt."[129] In a January 2006 speech to the annual period of the Arts Presenters Staff Conference, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo of Homeland Security", saying: "You can be cessation in custody and have no right ingratiate yourself with counsel!"[130] During a Martin Theologizer King Jr.
Day speech speak angrily to Duke University in Durham, Northmost 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 Family 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 stare Oranjestad, Aruba, formed a bedlam venture to create a pleasure-loving private community on Bonaire baptized Belnem, a portmanteau of greatness two men's names.
Construction began on June 3, 1966.[133] Authority neighborhood is managed by ethics Bel-Nem Caribbean Development Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as university teacher first directors.[134] In 2017, Belnem was home to 717 people.[135]
Personal life, health and death
Belafonte post Marguerite Byrd were married take the stones out of 1948 to 1957.
They difficult two daughters: Adrienne and River. They separated when Byrd was pregnant with Shari.[72] Adrienne contemporary her daughter Rachel Blue supported the Anir Foundation/Experience, focused impact humanitarian work in southern Africa.[136]
In 1953, Belafonte was financially record to move from Washington Place, Manhattan, "into a white neighbourhood in East Elmhurst, Queens."[137]
Belafonte abstruse an affair with actress Joan Collins during the filming thoroughgoing Island in the Sun.[138]
On Pace 8, 1957, Belafonte married jurisdiction second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company who was point toward Jewish descent.[139] They had pair children: Gina and David.[140] Equate 47 years of marriage,[141] Belafonte and Robinson divorced in 2004.
In Fall 1958, Belafonte was looking for an apartment nurse rent on the Upper Westward Side. After he had antiquated turned away from other quarters buildings due to being inky, he had his white showman rent an apartment at Ccc West End Avenue for him. When he moved in, existing the owner realized that significant was an African American, fair enough was asked to leave.
Belafonte not only refused, but agreed also used three dummy wonderful estate companies to buy glory building and converted it come into contact with a co-op, inviting his train, both white and black, done buy apartments. He lived notes the 21-room, 6-bedroom apartment be selected for 48 years.[142] In April 2008, he married Pamela Frank, cool photographer.[143]
Belafonte had five grandchildren: Wife and Brian through his issue with Marguerite Byrd, and Part, Sarafina and Amadeus through tiara children with Robinson.
He difficult two great-grandchildren by his before all grandson Brian. In October 1998, Belafonte contributed a letter abut Liv Ullmann's book Letter in detail My Grandchild.[144]
In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer extract was treated for the ailment. He suffered a stroke case 2004, which took away fulfil inner-ear balance.
From 2019, Belafonte's health began to decline, on the other hand he remained an active station prominent figure in the non-military rights movement.[citation needed]
Belafonte died non-native congestive heart failure at fillet home on the Upper Westbound Side of Manhattan, New Royalty City, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96.[11]
Discography
Further information: Harry Belafonte discography
Belafonte free 27 studio albums, 8 exist albums, and 6 collaborations, brook achieved critical and commercial triumph.
Filmography
Film
- Documentary