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Harry Belafonte

All articles tagged with #harry belafonte

obituary2 years ago

The Legacy of Harry Belafonte: From Ordinary New Yorker to Heartthrob and Icon.

Harry Belafonte, the legendary singer, actor, and civil rights activist, passed away at the age of 96. He faced racial discrimination throughout his life, but a chance encounter through his work as an assistant building janitor in Harlem changed his life forever. Belafonte spoke at length about his successes as an artist, the indignities he faced, and his passions that drove his civil rights activism. He leaves behind a legacy of cultural and social change in New York and the nation.

entertainment2 years ago

The Impact of Harry Belafonte's Career and Teachings.

David Simon, creator of "The Wire," shares a personal anecdote about meeting Harry Belafonte while working on a proposed miniseries about the civil rights movement for HBO. Belafonte, a critical character in the narrative, challenged Simon's desire to include humor in the series, leaving Simon feeling like a "complete and utter shitbag hack." However, months later, Belafonte was gracious and warm during a dinner, and despite the project ultimately being canceled, Simon remains indebted to the cultural icon.

obituary2 years ago

The Dual Lives of Harry Belafonte: Activism and Personal Ties to MLK Jr. and Atlanta.

Harry Belafonte, the famous Black actor and singer, died at the age of 96. Belafonte was deeply committed to human and civil rights and became a major financial supporter of the civil rights movement and Atlanta’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference after meeting Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1950s. He enlisted his Hollywood friends to offer support through donations, appearances or concerts. Belafonte would spend parts of his personal fortune to bail King and other activists out of jail, pay hospital bills, buy food or keep the lights on another month.

obituary2 years ago

The Legacy of Harry Belafonte: Singer, Activist, and Civil Rights Icon

Harry Belafonte, who died at the age of 96, was an activist before he became an artist. He used his star power to fight against injustice during the civil rights movement, raising money for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and helping organize the 1963 March on Washington. However, his relationship with the civil rights movement wasn't always simple, and he expressed frustration at the expectations Black Americans put on him as a civil rights activist while not always supporting his music career or talking openly about the nation's progress following the civil rights era and the inaction of Black leaders.

obituary2 years ago

Legendary Singer and Civil Rights Activist Harry Belafonte Passes Away at 96.

Harry Belafonte, the singer, actor, and civil rights activist, has died at the age of 96. Belafonte was one of the first Black artists to achieve widespread commercial success in the United States and was known for his Jewish connections, including his marriage to his Jewish second wife, dancer Julie Robinson. He was also famous for his rendition of the Hebrew dance hit “Hava Nagila” and his commitment to civil rights activism, including his close friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. Belafonte died of congestive heart failure and is survived by his children and grandchildren.

obituary2 years ago

Legendary Singer and Civil Rights Activist Harry Belafonte Passes Away at 96

Harry Belafonte, the first Black man to win a Tony and an Emmy, a singer, actor, and civil rights activist, died at the age of 96 due to congestive heart failure. Belafonte was known for his magnetic charm and wistful Caribbean folk songs, including his version of the "Banana Boat Song." He was a confidant to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a friend of the marginalized. Belafonte also established one of the first all-Black music publishing companies and helped launch one of the first voter registration drives in Mississippi.

obituary2 years ago

Harry Belafonte, Barrier-Breaking Music Legend and Activist, Passes Away at 96.

Harry Belafonte, the singer, actor, and activist, has died at the age of 96. He was known for his global hits such as Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), his Tony award-winning acting, and his appearances in numerous feature films. Belafonte spent his life fighting for a variety of causes, including civil rights for Black Americans, poverty, apartheid, and Aids in Africa. He was mentored by Martin Luther King Jr and Paul Robeson, and bailed King out of a Birmingham, Alabama, jail in 1963 as well as co-organising the march on Washington that culminated in King’s “I have a dream” speech.