Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte(/ˌbɛləˈfɒnti/BEL-ə-FON-tee; bornHarold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor, andcivil rights activistwho popularizedcalypso musicwith international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte's career breakthrough albumCalypso(1956) was the first million-sellingLPby a single artist.
Belafonte was best known for his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child". He recorded and performed in many genres, includingblues,folk,gospel,show tunes, andAmerican standards.He also starred in films such asCarmen Jones(1954),Island in the Sun(1957),Odds Against Tomorrow(1959),Buck and the Preacher(1972), andUptown Saturday Night(1974). He made his final feature film appearance inSpike Lee'sBlacKkKlansman(2018).
Belafonte considered the actor, singer, and activistPaul Robesonto be a mentor. Belafonte was also a close confidant ofMartin Luther King Jr.during thecivil rights movementof the 1950s and 1960s and acted as theAmerican Civil Liberties Unioncelebrity ambassador forjuvenile justiceissues.He was also a vocal critic of the policies of theGeorge W. BushandDonald Trumpadministrations.
Belafonte won threeGrammy Awards, including aGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award, anEmmy Award,and aTony Award. In 1989, he received theKennedy Center Honors. He was awarded theNational Medal of Artsin 1994. In 2014, he received theJean Hersholt Humanitarian Awardat the academy's6th Annual Governors Awardsand in 2022 was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein the Early Influence category.He is one of the few performers to havereceived an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), although he wonthe Oscarin a non-competitive category.
Belafonte was born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.on March 1, 1927, at Lying-in Hospital inHarlem, New York, the son of Jamaican-born parents Harold George Bellanfanti Sr. (1900–1990), who worked as a chef, and Melvine Love (1906–1988), a housekeeper.There are disputed claims of his father's place of birth, which is also stated asMartinique.
His mother was the child of aScottish Jamaicanmother and anAfro-Jamaicanfather, and his father was the child of an Afro-Jamaican mother and aDutch-Jewishfather ofSephardic Jewishdescent. Harry Jr. was raisedCatholicand attended parochial school atSt. Charles Borromeo.
From 1932 to 1940, Belafonte lived with one of his grandmothers in her native country of Jamaica, where he attendedWolmer's Schools. Upon returning to New York City, he dropped out ofGeorge Washington High School,after which he joined theU.S. Navyand served duringWorld War II.In the 1940s, he worked as a janitor's assistant, during which a tenant gave him, as a gratuity, two tickets to see theAmerican Negro Theater. He fell in love with the art form and befriendedSidney Poitier, who was also financially struggling. They regularly purchased a single seat to local plays, trading places in between acts, after informing the other about the progression of the play.
At the end of the 1940s, Belafonte took classes in acting at theDramatic WorkshopofThe New Schoolin New York City with the influential German directorErwin PiscatoralongsideMarlon Brando,Tony Curtis,Walter Matthau,Bea Arthur, and Poitier, while performing with the American Negro Theater.He subsequently received aTony Awardfor his participation in the Broadway revueJohn Murray Anderson's Almanac(1954).He also starred in the 1955 Broadway revue3 for TonightwithGower Champion.
Belafonte started his career in music as a club singer in New York to pay for his acting classes.The first time he appeared in front of an audience, he was backed by the Charlie Parker band, which includedCharlie Parker,Max Roach, andMiles Davis, among others.He launched his recording career as a pop singer on the Roost label in 1949, but quickly developed a keen interest infolk music, learning material through theLibrary of Congress' American folk songs archives. Along with guitarist and friend Millard Thomas, Belafonte soon made his debut at the legendary jazz clubThe Village Vanguard.He signed a contract withRCA Victorin 1953, recording regularly for the label until 1974.Belafonte also performed during theRat Packera inLas Vegas.Belafonte's first widelyreleasedsingle, which went on to become his "signature" audience participation song in virtually all his live performances, was "Matilda", recorded April 27, 1953.Between 1953 and 1954, he was a cast member of theBroadwaymusical revueandsketch comedyshowJohn Murray Anderson's Almanacwhere he sangMark Twain,of which he was also the songwriter.
Following his success in the filmCarmen Jones(1954), Belafonte had his breakthrough album withCalypso(1956), which became the firstLPin the world to sell more than one million copies in a year.He stated that it was the first million-selling album ever in England. The album is number four onBillboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top ten, and 99 weeks on the U.S. chart.The album introduced American audiences tocalypso music, which had originated inTrinidad and Tobagoin the early 19th century, and Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title he wore with reservations since he had no claims to anyCalypso Monarchtitles.
One of the songs included in the album is the now famous "Banana Boat Song", listed as "Day-O" on theCalypsoLP, which reached number five on the pop chart and featured its signature lyric "Day-O".
Many of the compositions recorded forCalypso, including "Banana Boat Song" and "Jamaica Farewell", gave songwriting credit toIrving Burgie.
In the United Kingdom, "Banana Boat Song" was released in March 1957 and spent ten weeks in the top 10 of theUK singles chart, reaching a peak of number two, and in August, "Island in the Sun" reached number three, spending 14 weeks in the top 10. In November, "Mary's Boy Child" reachednumber one in the UK, where it spent seven weeks.
While primarily known for calypso, Belafonte recorded in many different genres, includingblues,folk,gospel,show tunes, andAmerican standards. His second-most popular hit, which came immediately after "The Banana Boat Song", was the comedic tune "Mama Look at Bubu", also known as "Mama Look a Boo-Boo", originally recorded byLord Melodyin 1955,in which he sings humorously about misbehaving and disrespectful children. It reached number 11 on the pop chart.
In 1959, Belafonte starred inTonight With Belafonte, a nationally televised special that featuredOdetta, who sang "Water Boy" and performed a duet with Belafonte of "There's a Hole in My Bucket" that hit the national charts in 1961.Belafonte was the first Jamaican American to win anEmmy, forRevlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte(1959).Two live albums, both recorded atCarnegie Hallin 1959 and 1960, enjoyed critical and commercial success. From his 1959 album, "Hava Nagila" became part of his regular routine and one of his signature songs.He was one of many entertainers recruited byFrank Sinatrato perform at theinaugural galaof PresidentJohn F. Kennedyin 1961, which includedElla FitzgeraldandMahalia Jackson, among others.Later that year, RCA Victor released another calypso album,Jump Up Calypso, which went on to become another million seller. During the 1960s he introduced several artists to U.S. audiences, most notably South African singerMiriam Makebaand Greek singerNana Mouskouri. His albumMidnight Special(1962) includedBob Dylanas harmonica player.
Asthe Beatlesand other stars from Britain began to dominate the U.S. pop charts, Belafonte's commercial success diminished; 1964'sBelafonte at The Greek Theatrewas his last album to appear inBillboard's Top 40. His last hit single, "A Strange Song", was released in 1967 and peaked at number 5 on theadult contemporary musiccharts. Belafonte receivedGrammy Awardsfor the albumsSwing Dat Hammer(1960) andAn Evening with Belafonte/Makeba(1965), the latter of which dealt with the political plight of blackSouth Africansunderapartheid. He earned sixGold Records.
During the 1960s, Belafonte appeared on TV specials alongside artists such asJulie Andrews,Petula Clark,Lena Horne, andNana Mouskouri. In 1967, Belafonte was the first non-classical artist to perform at the prestigiousSaratoga Performing Arts Center(SPAC) in Upstate New York,soon to be followed by concerts there bythe Doors,the 5th Dimension,the Who, andJanis Joplin.
From February 5 to 9, 1968, Belafonte guest hostedThe Tonight Showsubstituting forJohnny Carson.Among his interview guests wereMartin Luther King Jr.andSenator Robert F. Kennedy.
Belafonte's fifth and final calypso album,Calypso Carnival, was issued by RCA in 1971.Belafonte's recording activity slowed down after releasing his final album for RCA in 1974. From the mid-1970s to early 1980s, Belafonte spent most of his time on tour, which included concerts in Japan, Europe, andCuba.In 1977,Columbia Recordsreleased the albumTurn the World Around, with a strong focus onworld music.
In 1978, he appeared as a guest star on an episode ofThe Muppet Show, on which he performed his signature song "Day-O".However, the episode is best known for Belafonte's rendition of the spiritual song "Turn the World Around", from the album of the same name, which he performed with specially made Muppets that resembled African tribal masks.It became one of the series' most famous performances and was reportedlyJim Henson's favorite episode. After Henson's death in May 1990, Belafonte was asked to perform the song at Henson's memorial service."Turn the World Around" was also included in the 2005 official hymnal supplement of theUnitarian Universalist Association,Singing the Journey.
From 1979 to 1989, Belafonte served on theRoyal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors.
In December 1984, soon afterBand Aid, a group of popular British and Irish artists, releasedDo They Know It's Christmas?Belafonte decided to create an American benefit single for African famine relief. With fundraiserKen Kragen, he enlistedLionel Richie,Kenny Rogers,Stevie Wonder,Quincy JonesandMichael Jackson,  The song they produced and recorded, "We Are the World", brought together some of the era's best-known American musicians and is the eighth-best-selling single of all timewith physical sales in excess of 20 million copies. In 1986 the American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song of the Year", and honored Belafonte with the Award of Appreciation.
Belafonte released his first album of original material in over a decade,Paradise in Gazankulu, in 1988, which contained ten protest songs against the South African formerApartheidpolicy, and was his last studio album.In the same year Belafonte, asUNICEFGoodwill Ambassador, attended a symposium inHarare, Zimbabwe, to focus attention on child survival and development in Southern African countries. As part of the symposium, he performed a concert for UNICEF. AKodakvideo crew filmed the concert, which was released as a 60-minute concert video titledGlobal Carnival.
Following a lengthy recording hiatus,An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends, a soundtrack and video of a televised concert, were released in 1997 byIsland Records.The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music, a huge multi-artist project recorded by RCA during the 1960s and 1970s, was finally released by the label in 2001. Belafonte went on theToday Showto promote the album on September 11, 2001, and was interviewed byKatie Couricjust minutes before the first plane hit theWorld Trade Center.The album was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Boxed Recording Package, for Best Album Notes, and for Best Historical Album.
Belafonte received theKennedy Center Honorsin 1989.He was awarded theNational Medal of Artsin 1994 and he won aGrammy Lifetime Achievement Awardin 2000. He performed sold-out concerts globally through the 1950s to the 2000s. His last concert was a benefit concert for theAtlanta Operaon October 25, 2003. In a 2007 interview, he stated that he had since retired from performing.
On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the keynote speaker and 2013 honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at theRhode Island School of Design. Belafonte used his career and experiences with Dr. King to speak on the role of artists as activists.
Belafonte was inducted as an honorary member ofPhi Beta Sigmafraternity on January 11, 2014.
In March 2014, Belafonte was awarded an honorary doctorate fromBerklee College of MusicinBoston.
In 2017, Belafonte releasedWhen Colors Come Together, an anthology of some of his earlier recordings, produced by his son David, who wrote lyrics for an updated version of "Island In The Sun", arranged by longtime Belafonte musical director Richard Cummings, and featuring Harry Belafonte's grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a children's choir.
Belafonte starred in numerous films. His first film role was inBright Road(1953), in which he supported female leadDorothy Dandridge.The two subsequently starred inOtto Preminger's hit musicalCarmen Jones(1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing in the film was dubbed by an opera singer, as was Dandridge's, both voices being deemed unsuitable for their roles.
Realizing his own star power, Belafonte was subsequently able to land several (then) controversial film roles. InIsland in the Sun(1957), there are hints of an affair between Belafonte's character and the character played byJoan Fontaine;the film also starredJames Mason, Dandridge,Joan Collins,Michael Rennie, andJohn Justin. In 1959, Belafonte starred in and produced (through his company HarBel Productions)Robert Wise'sOdds Against Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan). Belafonte also co-starred withInger StevensinThe World, the Flesh and the Devil.Belafonte was offered the role ofPorgyin Preminger'sPorgy and Bess, where he would have once again starred opposite Dandridge, but refused the role because he objected to itsracial stereotyping;Sidney Poitierplayed the role instead.
Dissatisfied with most of the film roles offered to him during the 1960s, Belafonte concentrated on music. In the early 1970s, Belafonte appeared in more films, among which are two with Poitier:Buck and the Preacher(1972) andUptown Saturday Night(1974).In 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical filmBeat Street, dealing with the rise ofhip-hopculture.Together withArthur Baker, he produced the gold-certified soundtrack ofthe same name.Four of his songs appeared in the 1988 filmBeetlejuice,including "Day-O" and "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)".
Belafonte next starred in a major film in the mid-1990s, appearing withJohn Travoltain the race-reverse dramaWhite Man's Burden(1995);and inRobert Altman'sjazz agedramaKansas City(1996), the latter of which garnered him theNew York Film Critics Circle Awardfor Best Supporting Actor.He also starred as an Associate Justice of theSupreme Court of the United Statesin the TV dramaSwing Vote(1999).In 2006, Belafonte appeared inBobby,Emilio Estevez's ensemble drama about theassassination of Robert F. Kennedy; he played Nelson, a friend of an employee of the Ambassador Hotel (Anthony Hopkins).
His final film appearance was inSpike Lee's Academy Award-winningBlacKkKlansman(2018) as an elderly civil rights pioneer.
Belafonte is said to have married politics and pop culture.Belafonte's political beliefs were greatly inspired by the singer, actor, and civil rights activistPaul Robeson, who mentored him.Robeson opposed not only racial prejudice in the United States but also westerncolonialismin Africa. Belafonte refused to perform in the American South from 1954 until 1961.
Belafonte gave the keynote address at the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration In December 2007 and was awarded the Chief JusticeEarl WarrenCivil Liberties Award. The 2011Sundance Film Festivalfeatured the documentary filmSing Your Song, a biographical film focusing on Belafonte's contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and his endeavors to promote social justice globally.In 2011, Belafonte's memoirMy Songwas published byKnopf Books.
Belafonte supported thecivil rights movementin the 1950s and 1960s and was one ofMartin Luther King Jr.'s confidants.After King had been arrested for his involvement in theMontgomery bus boycottin 1955, he began traveling to Northern cities to spread awareness and acquire donations for those struggling with social segregation and oppression in the South.The two met at theAbyssinian Baptist ChurchinHarlem, New York, in March of the following year. This interaction led to years of joint political activism and friendship. Belafonte joined King and his wife,Coretta Scott King, during the 1958 Washington D.C.Youth March for Integrated Schools, and in 1963, he backed King in conversations withRobert F. Kennedy, helping to organize the1963 March on Washington—the site of King's famous "I Have a Dream" Speech.He provided for King's family since King earned only $8,000 ($80,000 in today's money) a year as a preacher. As with many other civil rights activists, Belafonte wasblacklistedduring theMcCarthy era. During the 1963Birmingham campaign, Belafonte bailed King out of theBirmingham, Alabamajail and raised $50,000to release other civil rights protesters. He contributed to the 1961Freedom Rides, and supportedvoter registration drivesHe later recalled, "Paul Robeson had been my first great formative influence; you might say he gave me my backbone. Martin King was the second; he nourished my soul."Throughout his career, Belafonte was an advocate for political and humanitarian causes, such as theAnti-Apartheid MovementandUSA for Africa. From 1987 until his death, he was aUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
During theMississippi Freedom Summerof 1964, Belafonte bankrolled theStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, flying toMississippithat August with Sidney Poitier and $60,000 in cash and entertaining crowds inGreenwood. In 1968, Belafonte appeared on aPetula Clarkprimetime television special onNBC. In the middle of a duet ofOn the Path of Glory, Clark smiled and briefly touched Belafonte's arm,which prompted complaints from Doyle Lott, the advertising manager of the show's sponsor,Plymouth Motors.Lott wanted to retape the segment,but Clark, who had ownership of the special, told NBC that the performance would be shown intact or she would not allow it to be aired at all. Newspapers reported the controversy,Lott was relieved of his responsibilities,and when the special aired, it attracted high ratings.
Belafonte taped an appearance on an episode ofThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hourto be aired on September 29, 1968, performing a controversialMardi Grasnumber intercut with footage from the1968 Democratic National Conventionriots.CBScensors deleted the segment. The full unedited content was broadcast in 1993 as part of a completeSmothers Brothers Comedy Hoursyndication package.
In the1960 electionbetweenJohn F. KennedyandRichard Nixon, notable Black athleteJackie Robinsonadvocated his support for the Nixon campaign. His reasoning for doing so was his perception of Kennedy's championing of theCivil Rights movementas disingenuous.Because of Robinson's social impact on Black Americans, theDemocratic Partywas determined to find a comparable Black endorser for Kennedy's campaign.Fresh off of his win as the first Black man to receive anEmmy Awardfor his work onTonight with Belafonte, Belafonte was Kennedy's pick to fill the endorsement position.
The two met in Belafonte's apartment, where Kennedy had hoped to convince Belafonte to mobilize support for his campaign. He thought to accomplish this by having Belafonte mobilize his influence amongst other Black entertainers of the era, persuading them to rally for Kennedy's presidential nomination. Unexpectedly, Belafonte was not so impressed by the candidate, sharing the same sentiments as Robinson about Kennedy's role (or lack thereof) in maintaining civil rights as an essential part of his campaign. To improve his engagement with Black America, Belafonte suggested to Kennedy that he contactMartin Luther King, making a connection to a viable source of leadership within the movement. Kennedy, though, was hesitant with this suggestion, questioning the social impact the preacher could make on the campaign. After much convincing–as Kennedy and King would later meet in June 1960–the two men negotiated a deal that if Nixon became the nominee for theRepublican party, Belafonte would support Kennedy's presidential pursuits.Belafonte's endorsement of the campaign was further substantiated after both Kennedy brothers had worked to bail King out of jail inAtlantaafter a sit-in, engaging with aGeorgiajudge.
Joining the Hollywood for Kennedy committee,Belafonte appeared in a 1960 campaign commercial for Democratic presidential candidateJohn F. Kennedy.Unfortunately, the commercial was shown on television for one broadcasting.Belafonte also attended and performed at Kennedy'sinaugural ball.Kennedy later named Belafonte cultural advisor to thePeace Corps. AfterKennedy's assassination, Belafonte supportedLyndon B. Johnsonfor the1964 United States presidential election.
Renowned authorJames Baldwincontacted Belafonte three years after John F. Kennedy's election. The purpose of the call was to invite Belafonte to a meeting to speak withAttorney GeneralRobert Kennedyabout the continued plight of the Black people in America. This event was known as theBaldwin-Kennedy Meeting. Belafonte met with fifteen others, including Kennedy and Baldwin, in Kennedy'sCentral Park Southapartment on May 24, 1963.
The other members included were Thais Aubrey, David Baldwin, Edwin Berry,Kenneth Clark, Eddie Fales,Lorraine Hansberry, Lena Horne,Clarence Jones,Burke Marshall,Henry Morgenthau III,June Shagaloff, Jerome Smith, andRip Torn.
The guests engaged in cordial political and social conversation. Later, the talk led to an investigation of the position of Black people in theVietnam War. Offended by Kennedy's implication that Black men should serve in the war, Jerome Smith scolded the young Attorney General. Smith, a Black man and Civil Rights advocate had been severely beaten while fighting for the movement's cause, which enforced his strong resistance to Kennedy's assertion, frustrated that he should fight for a country that did not seem to want to fight for him.
A short time after the confrontation, Belafonte spoke with Kennedy. Belafonte then told him that even with the meeting's tension, he needed to be in the presence of a man like Smith to understand Black people's frustration withpatriotismthat Kennedy and other leaders could not understand.
In the 1950s, Belafonte was a supporter of the African American Students Foundation, which gave a grant toBarack Obama Sr., the late father of 44th U.S. presidentBarack Obama, to study at theUniversity of Hawaiiin 1959.
In 2011, Belafonte commented on theObama administrationand the role that popular opinion played in shaping its policies. "I think [Obama] plays the game that he plays because he sees no threat from evidencing concerns for the poor."
On December 9, 2012, in an interview withAl SharptononMSNBC, Belafonte expressed dismay that many political 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 to work like a third-world dictator and just put all of these guys in jail. You're violating the American desire."
On February 1, 2013, Belafonte received theNAACP'sSpingarn Medal, and in the televised ceremony, he countedConstance L. Riceamong those previous recipients of the award whom he regarded highly for speaking up "to remedy the ills of the nation."
In November 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution and Religion,” a dialogue betweenBob AvakianandCornel WestatRiverside Churchin New York City.
In 2016, Belafonte endorsed Vermont U.S. senatorBernie Sandersin theDemocratic primaries, saying: "I think he represents opportunity, I think he represents a moral imperative, I think he represents a certain kind of truth that's not often evidenced in the course of politics."
Belafonte was an honorary cochairman of theWomen's March on Washington, which took place on January 21, 2017, the day after theinauguration of Donald Trumpas president.
Belafonte was a fellow atThe Sanders Institute.
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize theGrammy Award-winning song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa. He performed in theLive Aidconcert that same year. In 1987, he received an appointment toUNICEFas agoodwill ambassador. Following his appointment, Belafonte traveled toDakar,Senegal, where he served as chairman of the International Symposium of Artists and Intellectuals for African Children. He also helped to raise funds—along with more than 20 other artists—in the largest concert ever held insub-Saharan Africa. In 1994, he embarked on a mission toRwandaand launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children.
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support the campaign againstHIV/AIDS.In 2002,Africareawarded him theBishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Awardfor his efforts.In 2004, Belafonte traveled toKenyato stress the importance of educating children in the region.
Belafonte had been involved inprostate canceradvocacy since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated for the disease.On June 27, 2006, Belafonte received theBETHumanitarian Award at the 2006BET Awards. He was named one of nine 2006 Impact Award recipients byAARP: The Magazine.
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte representedUNICEFonNorwegiantelevision to support the annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) and helped raise a world record of $10 per Norwegian citizen.
Belafonte was also an ambassador for theBahamas.He sat on the board of directors of the Advancement Project.He also served on the advisory council of theNuclear Age Peace Foundation.
In 2013, Belafonte was named a grand marshal of the New York City Pride Parade alongsideEdie Windsorand Earl Fowlkes.
Belafonte was a longtime critic ofU.S. foreign policy. He began making controversial political statements on the subject in the early 1980s. At various times, he made statements opposing the U.S. embargo onCuba; praising Soviet peace initiatives; attacking theU.S. invasion of Grenada; praising theAbraham Lincoln Brigade; honoringEthel and Julius Rosenberg; and praisingFidel Castro.Belafonte is also known for his visit to Cuba that helped ensurehip-hop's place in Cuban society. According to Geoffrey Baker's article "Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap in Cuba", in 1999, Belafonte met with representatives of the rap community immediately before meeting with Castro. This meeting resulted in Castro's personal approval of, and hence the government's involvement in, the incorporation of rap into his country's culture.In a 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected upon this meeting's influence:
"When I went back toHavanaa couple years later, the people in the hip-hop community came to see me and we hung out for a bit. They thanked me profusely and I said, 'Why?' and they said, 'Because your little conversation with Fidel and the Minister of Culture on hip-hop led to there being a special division within the ministry and we've got our own studio.'."
Belafonte was active in theAnti-Apartheid Movement. In 1987, he was the master of ceremonies at a reception honoringAfrican National CongressPresidentOliver Tamboat Roosevelt House,Hunter College, in New York City. The reception was held by the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) and The Africa Fund.He was a board member of theTransAfrica Forumand theInstitute for Policy Studies.
Belafonte achieved widespread attention for his political views in 2002 when he began making a series of comments about PresidentGeorge W. Bush, his administration and theIraq War. During an interview withTed LeitnerforSan Diego's 760 KFMB, on October 10, 2002, Belafonte referred toMalcolm X.Belafonte said:
Belafonte used the quotation to characterize formerUnited States Secretaries of StateColin Powell andCondoleezza Rice. Powell and Rice both responded, with Powell calling the remarks "unfortunate"and Rice saying: "I don't need Harry Belafonte to tell me what it means to be black."
The comment resurfaced in an interview withAmy GoodmanforDemocracy Now!in 2006.In January 2006, Belafonte led a delegation of activists including actorDanny Gloverand activist/professorCornel Westto meet withVenezuelan presidentHugo Chávez. In 2005, Chávez, an outspoken Bush critic, initiated a program to provide cheaperheating oilfor poor people in several areas of the United States. Belafonte supported this initiative.He was quoted as saying, during the meeting with Chávez: "No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatestterroristin the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people support your revolution."Belafonte and Glover met again with Chávez in 2006.The comment ignited a great deal of controversy.Hillary Clintonrefused to acknowledge Belafonte's presence at an awards ceremony that featured both of them.AARP, which had just named him one of its 10 Impact Award honorees 2006, released this statement following the remarks: "AARP does not condone the manner and tone which he has chosen and finds his comments completely unacceptable."
During aMartin Luther King Jr. Dayspeech atDuke Universityin 2006, Belafonte compared the American government to thehijackersof theSeptember 11 attacks, saying: "What is the difference between that terrorist and other terrorists?"In response to criticism about his remarks, Belafonte asked: "What do you call Bush when the war he put us in to date has killed almost as many Americans as died on 9/11 and the number of Americans wounded in war is almost triple? ... By most definitions Bush can be considered a terrorist." When he was asked about his expectation of criticism for his remarks on the war in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on.Dissentis central to any democracy."
In another interview, Belafonte remarked that while his comments may have been "hasty", he felt that the Bush administration suffered from "arrogance wedded to ignorance" and its policies around the world were "morally bankrupt."In a January 2006 speech to the annual meeting of the Arts Presenters Members Conference, Belafonte referred to "the newGestapoofHomeland Security", saying: "You can be arrested and have noright to counsel!"During a Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech atDuke UniversityinDurham, North Carolinain January 2006, Belafonte said that if he could choose hisepitaph, it would read "Harry Belafonte, Patriot."
In 2004, he was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award in San Francisco byGlobal Exchange.
Belafonte liked and often visited the Caribbean island ofBonaire.He and Maurice Neme ofOranjestad, Aruba, formed a joint venture to create a luxuriousprivate communityon Bonaire namedBelnem, a portmanteau of the two men's names. Construction began on June 3, 1966.The neighborhood is managed by the Bel-Nem Caribbean Development Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as its first directors.In 2017, Belnem was home to 717 people.
Belafonte and Marguerite Byrd were married from 1948 to 1957. They had two daughters: Adrienne andShari. They separated when Byrd was pregnant with Shari.Adrienne and her daughter Rachel Blue founded the Anir Foundation/Experience, focused on humanitarian work in southern Africa.
In 1953, Belafonte was financially able to move fromWashington Heights, Manhattan, "into a white neighborhood inEast Elmhurst, Queens."
Belafonte had an affair with actressJoan Collinsduring the filming ofIsland in the Sun.
On March 8, 1957, Belafonte married his second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer with theKatherine Dunham Companywho was ofJewishdescent.They had two children:Ginaand David.After 47 years of marriage,Belafonte and Robinson divorced in 2004.
In Fall 1958, Belafonte was looking for an apartment to rent on the Upper West Side. After he had been turned away from other apartment buildings due to being black, he had his white publicist rent an apartment at 300 West End Avenue for him. When he moved in, and the owner realized that he was an African American, he was asked to leave. Belafonte not only refused, but he also used three dummy real estate companies to buy the building and converted it into a co-op, inviting his friends, both white and black, to buy apartments. He lived in the 21-room, 6-bedroom apartment for 48 years.In April 2008, he married Pamela Frank, a photographer.
Belafonte had five grandchildren: Rachel and Brian through his children with Marguerite Byrd, and Maria, Sarafina and Amadeus through his children with Robinson. He had two great-grandchildren by his oldest grandson Brian. In October 1998, Belafonte contributed a letter toLiv Ullmann's bookLetter to My Grandchild.
In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was treated for the disease. He suffered a stroke in 2004, which took away his inner-ear balance. From 2019, Belafonte's health began to decline, but he remained an active and prominent figure in the civil rights movement.
Belafonte died fromcongestive heart failureat his home on theUpper West SideofManhattan, New York City, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96.
Belafonte released 27 studio albums, 8 live albums, and 6 collaborations, and achieved critical and commercial success.
Belafonte is anEGOThonoree, having received threeGrammy Awards, anEmmy Award,aTony Award,and, in 2014, theJean Hersholt Humanitarian Awardat theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences'6th Annual Governors Awards.
Belafonte won an Emmy in 1960 for his performance onRevlon Revue. He was nominated four other times.
He also received various honours including theKennedy Center Honorsin 1989, theNational Medal of Artsin 1994 and was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein the Early Influence category in 2022.
Belafonte celebrated his 93rd birthday on March 1, 2020, at Harlem'sApollo Theaterin a tribute event that concluded "with a thunderous audience singalong" with rapperDoug E. Freshto 1956's "Banana Boat Song". Soon after, the New York Public Library'sSchomburg Center for Research in Black Cultureannounced it had acquired Belafonte's vast personal archive of "photographs, recordings, films, letters, artwork, clipping albums," and other content.