Who was Harry Belafonte? What are people saying about the singer and activist?

byDuc Manh •
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Singer and activist Harry Belafonte speaks during a memorial tribute concert for Pete Seeger in New York.

Singer and activist Harry Belafonte speaks throughout a memorial tribute live performance for folks icon and civil rights activist Pete Seeger in New York on July 20, 2014. Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive coronary heart failure at his New York residence. He was 96.

Kathy Willens, Related Press

Famend singer and activist Harry Belafonte died Tuesday at age 96. He was identified for topping pop charts, performing on Broadway, breaking racial obstacles and marching within the civil rights motion alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

The reason for loss of life was listed as congestive coronary heart failure, a longtime spokesman for Belafonte advised The New York Instances.

Belafonte rose to fame throughout a time of intense racial segregation, and used his affect as a Black entertainer to push for change.

In accordance with the Instances, Belafonte “nearly single-handedly ignited a craze for Caribbean music with hit data like ‘Day-O (The Banana Boat Track)’ and ‘Jamaica Farewell.’” His album “Calypso,” that featured each of these hit singles, topped the Billboard charts in 1956 and stayed on the prime for 31 weeks.

Shortly after his musical success, he additionally discovered success in Hollywood performing as a number one man. However following his rise to success within the Nineteen Fifties, Belafonte turned his focus to civil rights and activism.

He grew to become a detailed pal to King and needed to make use of his platform to assist others after rising up because the son of a poor Jamaican mom who made cash for the household by working as a home servant.

“The portion of my life that's of significance to me has to do with my activism,” Belafonte advised The Dallas Morning Information in 2011. “I’ve usually responded to queries that ask, ‘When as an artist did you determine to change into an activist?’ My response to the query is that I used to be an activist lengthy earlier than I grew to become an artist. They each service one another, however the activism is first.”

A few of his efforts embrace main a marketing campaign in opposition to apartheid in South Africa, in addition to serving to elevate cash for the civil rights motion with King and assembly with key leaders to achieve help for the motion.

At one level, Belafonte and fellow actor Sidney Poitier journeyed to Mississippi with the intention to ship a bag carrying $70,000 supporting voter registration efforts. He stated on the journey they “have been chased and shot at by the Ku Klux Klan however finally succeeded in hand-delivering their cash,” CNN reported.

In later years, he was essential to the battle in opposition to HIV/AIDS and got here up with the thought for the music “We Are the World,” which introduced collectively a gaggle “of pop and rock stars, together with Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen, to boost cash for famine aid in Africa,” per CNN.

The NAACP awarded him the group’s highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, in 2013 for his efforts to help justice and equality, per CNN.

“America has by no means been moved to excellent our want for higher democracy with out radical considering and radical voices being on the helm of any such quest,” Belafonte stated when he accepted the award, per Democracy Now.

What are individuals saying about Harry Belafonte?

Activists, entertainers, politicians and followers of Belafonte outpoured their gratitude for his work and affect after listening to about his loss of life. Listed here are a number of the notable individuals who tweeted about him.

“After dad was assassinated, Harry Belafonte joined me, mother, and my siblings in Memphis. He was one of many solely individuals to guarantee that mother and her kids have been taken care of within the months, days, and years after the assassination. He was there for us even when others had gone,” Martin Luther King III tweeted.

“As we speak we honor and keep in mind the lifetime of our pal, Harry Belafonte. Take a second with us to mirror and honor his legacy and luxuriate in this Sesame Road traditional,” Sesame Road tweeted.

“RIP to my pricey brother-in-arms, Harry Belafonte. From our time developing, struggling to make it in NY within the 50’s with our brother Sidney Poitier, to our work on ‘We Are The World’ & every little thing in between, you have been the usual bearer for what it meant to be an artist/activist,” musician and humanitarian Quincy Jones tweeted.

“Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to elevate others up. He lived an excellent life — remodeling the humanities whereas additionally standing up for civil rights. And he did all of it along with his signature smile and magnificence. Michelle and I ship our like to his spouse, youngsters, and followers,” former President Barack Obama tweeted.

“Harry Belafonte was one in all our favourite visitor stars on The Muppet Present and an important pal to The Muppets. In his work on and off the stage, he helped us all to see each other clearly and actually turned the world round. We'll always remember you, Harry!” The Muppets tweeted.

“Harry Belafonte was not solely an important entertainer, however he was a brave chief within the battle in opposition to racism and employee oppression. Jane and I have been privileged to think about him a pal and can miss him very a lot,” Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted.

“Harry Belafonte epitomized what the function of an artist must be. The voice that brings collectively the neighborhood to have interaction one another within the train of self willpower, the declaration of that society’s values, and in doing that encourage the society to motion. A person of conviction,” actor Wendell Pierce tweeted.

“Harry Belafonte was one in all our nation’s strongest voices for change. America has misplaced an enormous. Doug and I are praying for his household and family members,” Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted.

“I'm deeply unhappy on the lack of my very pricey brother — the nice Harry Belafonte! His inventive genius, ethical braveness & loving soul shall dwell eternally! God bless his valuable household!” activist Cornel West tweeted.

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