by
Nancy Snipper
Most of us know Harry
Belafonte as that amazing singer whose sensual swagger and sparkling smile gave
a face to Calypso. But how many of us know that Belafonte was an activist who
happened to become an artist (as he puts it). Early on in his career, he took
munificent measures on and off stage to begin the process of empowering Blacks
and rattling the White American elite whose political powers were second to
none in the world. It was Belafonte who got Bobby Kennedy to travel to the
South and witness first hand the plight of the “negro”. The young senator, now on side with Dr. King
was murdered shortly after that trip in 1968.
It was Belafonte, who
was banned from celebrity bathrooms on the very nights he was bringing millions
of dollars into Las Vegas
during his sold-out performances there. In fact, all Black performers were forced
to hole up in a nearby shanty hotel neighbourhood, so that they would remain
out of sight. Belafonte was even banned from swimming in the pool of the hotel
where he was performing. But, typically Belafonte defied the guards keeping
watch on the hotel roof. He proudly plunged into the pool, whereupon several 'White'
women left their lounge chairs to jump in to join him. The guards retreated
inside.
Belafonte was Martin
Luther King’s close friend. He worked tirelessly for him, even worshipped him
to an extent. Wherever the great leader went, Belafonte stood beside him on one
side and Cora King on the other. In fact, the singer risked his life to go down
to Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964 with Sidney Poitier and
thousands of dollars of hidden cash for the civil rights workers in that state.
Belafonte traveled
into Biafra and South Africa
where he began a youth college program in America for Africans, and was
instrumental in getting Quincy Jones on board and others for the We Are the
World project. For the past 60 years, this Day-o singer has traveled into the
world’s hotspot where poverty and apathy have deadened his own people. Harry
Belafonte has garnered as many awards for his humanitarian work as he has for
his artistry. His speaks daily on the
phone to his “friend” Nelson Mandela.
I met this legendary
activist/musician recently during an International Film Black Festival event.
Now walking with a cane, his energy and eloquence are mesmerizing. Now in the
twilight of his life, he was so candid in assessing his experiences which
included reference to failures he feels he had, particularly as a father and
husband.
Mr. Belafonte believes
there is a collective failure happening in the world. “There is still so much
work to be done in the world,” he said with intensity and passion. Now 85, he
tells his life story directly into the camera in the film, “Sing Your Song”. In
this remarkable film, he ties his singing into his personal journey as an
activist.
Now when I listen to
him sing, I no longer just see him as a singer, an actor and a handsome man. He also said that good outweighs evil, but
things have gone wrong in this world because we do not connect to our young
people, that we create divisions that lead to multiple downfalls.
Hearing him speak, I
realized that most artists are really activists hiding behind paint, words,
music and dance. Each has his own cause: Buffy Saint Marie for first Nations
people, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan – iconic protest songwriters.
Think of Peter Paul
and Mary and Joan Baez with whom I had the privilege to share a conversation
several years ago at a private house party upon her return from Israel. She told
me how wonderful it was to perform there, that the people really responded
powerfully to her songs. She was thrilled but tired, I recall, but the
implication from the gist of our chat was the concert was she felt it was an
important concert, for she was singing to people who knew about suffering and
resilience.
No doubt about it,
Musicians who sing to bring awareness to global problems have a huge impact on
our psyche, our values and our will to eradicate the woes of the world.
For
article on the 8th Film Black Festival CLICK HERE / Pour l'article
sur le 8e Festival Film Noir CLIQUEZ ICI
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