Revisiting Legends with “An Evening with Harry Belafonte”

This week, Student Ambassadors were given the opportunity to relish in the life and career of Harry Belafonte. The HistoryMakers’ 2000 interview with the iconic performer, activist, and humanitarian is conducted by the incomparable Danny Glover. The two veteran actors share a laugh as they detail the many highs and lows of Belafonte’s life and career. You can find the full interview here. 

Harry Belafonte was born on March 1st, 1927 to immigrant parents. Family had to elude immigration police and changed their names on several occasions. “My mother, who was an extremely clever woman, was able to outwit both the landlord and the FBI!” Belafonte said to a bemused audience. Despite her clever subterfuge, Belafonte’s mother briefly sent him back to Jamaica as a child, where he was raised by his grandparents for a few years. He would return to New York in 1939 and joined the navy at age 17 in 1944. Belafonte called the experience, “ a very critical time in my life…” It was there in the segregated camp that he learned the teachings of WEB DuBois and began his engagement with the Black struggle. 

Sociologist, historian, and educator W. E. B. Du Bois

After his service, Belafonte became a janitor's assistant back home  in Harlem. He soon discovers the American Negro Theater and “was absolutely overwhelmed by what [he] saw…” Belafonte’s first production featured legendary actress Etta Moten in the role of Belafonte’s mother. Moten is best known for her role as Bess in the stage classic “Porgy and Bess.” She also helped to establish a new range of roles for Black women on both stage and screen. He also had the opportunity to speak with another legendary actor and activist, Paul Robeson, after a show. “I realized as he spoke to us that...I had seen in him the way in which to carry forth the mission. He said ‘The purpose of art is not just to show life as it is, but to show life as it should be.’” 

Actress of the stage and screen Etta Moten

During his time at the American Negro theater, Belafonte began his life long friendship with actor Sidney Poitier. An entertainment giant in his own right, Poitier and Belafonte developed playful sibling rivalry throughout their accolade laden careers. This healthy competition comes to no surprise given their many similarities. Both Poitier and Belafonte were born to Caribbean parents and served in the second world war as a soldier and navy man respectively. In the interview, Belafonte tells a charming and ironic story about how a night job accidentally jump started Potter's career in motion pictures. “I’ve always reminded him that his greatest moment was based on garbage!”

Belafonte and long time friend Sidney Poitier

Through all of this, Belafonte continued to support his wife and children and attended the New School of New York. Studying alongside acting giants such as Marlon Brando, Bea Arthur, and Tony Curtis, Belafonte began to dabble in the NYC jazz scene. It was through this artistic exchange that he began his music career which would allow him to play alongside jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Max Roach. This experience would propel him to become the first artist to have an album sell over one million copies with “Calypso”. His career continued to ascend as he acted in several breakout roles, occasionally opposite the iconic Dorothy Dandridge. He was critically praised for his musical and theatrical versatility.

Belafonte and Dorothy Dandrige for the 1954 film Carmen Jones

By 27, Belafonte was one of the most recognizable and successful black men in the United States. Simultaneously,. Belafonte was blacklisted in Hollywood and harassed by the US government as a part of the US’ Red Scare phenomenon. He spoke of defending his activism to those who denied him a slot on the Ed Sullivan show, saying, “If you’re saying that my struggle and my commitment to the struggle against legal segregation and racial definition...is my offense, wait till you see what’s to come.” He then refused to sign a declaration that would insinuate his guilt and planned to continue his career elsewhere. However, the TV executives soon acquiesced, and Belafonte would go on to perform on the Ed Sullivan show. 

Belafonte and Sullivan on the Ed Sullivan Show

Belafonte went on to join the early Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s. He worked alongside the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and ensured the economic welfare of King and his family. His acting work also consistently reflected his political and social stances. His political interests globalized with his work for the movement to end aparthied in South Africa. Belefonte offered asylum to Father Huddleston, a political refugee from South Africa who was Nelson Mandela’s close friend. Huddleston became one of the most recognizable figures in the struggle against aparthied, helping to publicize the horrors of the country’s segregation. 

Belafonte and King share a laugh

Glover, Mandela, and Belafonte

However,  Belafonte’s commitment to the struggle of Black South Africans proved too much for Hollywood. He found himself blacklisted and pitted against his long time friend, Sidney Poitier. This strategic isolation led to an eighteen year gap in his professional resume. He would return to the screen to the joy and delight of audiences in 1992’s The Player. 

Nevertheless, Belafonte’s dedication to humanity is the most consistent and honorable trend in his career. Belafonte is responsible for funding the USA for Africa movement alongside his other numerous humanitarian efforts. One of the most recognizable humanitarian achievements is his role in creating the We Are the World Project, which raised  millions of dollars to African communities facing drought and famine.  He is also the second person ever to be given the role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Belafonte Awarded the National Medal of Arts  in 1994, and is widely beloved by fans, friends, and loved ones alike. 

Can you spot Belafonte in this We Are the World photo? Hint: He’s in the back!

Belafonte and his Medal of Arts