Harry Belafonte on Race, Arts, and America

Recorded: March 16, 2015
Harry Belafonte exposed America to world music and has spent his life challenging and overturning racial barriers. He played a key role in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington, led in the development of the Grammy-winning song “We are the World,” and was active in efforts to end apartheid in South Africa and obtain the release Nelson Mandela. He recently founded the Sankofa Justice & Equity Fund, a non-profit social justice organization that utilizes the power of culture and celebrity in partnership with activism.
Belafonte discusses his lifetime of art and service, and explores the unique power of the arts to address the political issues that trouble us today.

[@berylmorgan8482]

Harry Belafonte was my cousin..I grew up hearing about his many good deeds..from the hills of Alexandria, St Ann..i am proud to say he is a member of my family May he rest in the Embrace of the Most High! ❤🙏👏❤️

[@chinweofoleta4279]

A day before his 7:44 departure was announced, his song kept coming to my head and I will sing and dance it. The next day a neighbor texted me about his passing a day before. My heart dropped how much I am connected to his vision and work. May the Lord accept you in his bosom of Angels. May your soul rest in peace Mr. Belafonte. ❤😊😢

[@nzingashani2566]

Harry Belafonte is and had been a significant gift to America and to the world. The sad regret is that not enough Americans and more people across the world have not experienced Harry Belafonte more fully. He is a phenomenal human being. I wish I could have met and spoken to him on a one-on one basis. He is truly brilliant, thoughtful, perceptive and kind.

[@timoteushatupopi3403]

Truly

[@eddasimon1427]

Great artist, activist and MAN🌹❤️🍀

[@donaldtemchack7751]

Thank you Harry for your service, your work in the arts and especially in your work for a free and just Democracy for all. I agree with your take on where we had gotten in racism and freedom. I noticed the positive changes during my childhood and was proud to see it moving in that direction. But now I see that it has been turned around in a negative direction and it upsets me. Now I am doing what you did during your lifetime and try to become involved. It will get better because more people want that than those who don't.

[@kalmia01]

Become involved as you say is the most important thing we all could and must do, following the foosteps of the best ones, as Belafonte, one man of great culture, wisdom, humanity and intelligence, and I'm sure this was his greatest dream and hope, seeing more and more people involved to get this human world better than we found it. It is striking to think about we are a global community, nothing is achieved truly by a single person alone, nothing truly can be achieved by even the grestest effort by only a few enlightened people, while on contrary, everything could be achieved to make society equal with just little efforts by the vast majority of us, if not all.

[@1mctous]

I am only disappointed by the very low number of views. Tens of millions will watch the latest pop trash of the day but only 4000 will watch and listen to this great mind?

[@stifflick]

post it to FB, share it !

[@jimbecarroll5780]

Well you know why that is. It's the purposeful dumbing down of American culture and it's inhabitants

[@albevargiu]

America mi dispiace così tanto in paese abbiamo hello assassina so bene cosa fa eccome

[@ViolaRichbergGray]

I have watched so much love and knowledge Mr B has given to the world LOVE 😢LOVE ❤❤❤ I’m 75🙌🏾🙏🏾

[@lucidlioness3253]

How dreadful

[@aharris8684]

My Spirit was renewed by listening to his journey. What a Great! Friend we have in Mr. Harry Belafonte. A Great! Friend.

[@troymcclain9370]

"Artist are the gatekeepers of truth, they are civilizations anchor the compass for humanity's conscience." I LOVE IT

[@rebeccagandi5301]

Thanks God Harry you still living a long time now..

[@ma9081-l4y]

What an incredible story ❤️

[@JSB1882]

I love this man! Truly one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century and now too!

[@dorishermandad8656]

Oooh! MARAVILLOSO!! Amo la vida,la o.bra y el arte de Harry Belafonte. Les suplico,por favor, publiquen sus entrevistas con subtítulos en español 🙏

[@paulmartin3138]

Harry B was indeed a powerhouse for justice...and, of course, his music is awesome. I also deeply admire his sustained engagement to JAMAICA - 'island in the sun', land we love!😅😢

[@jean4578]

My mum talked about "harry" we are British my mum loved Harry Belafonte and the Ink Spots and The Mills Brothers

[@dianebuffalohead9059]

what a great mind

[@angeliquewildbolz7072]

I am so proud of you and grateful I met you! - Angelina from Stockholm

[@chevydude658]

Harry Belafonte is such a class act. I would love to be able to emulate his gentlemanly qualities. Also, I wouldn't mind looking as good as he does at 89. My dad was a little jealous of him because my Moms thought he was so handsome. LOL!

[@msbrowngault]

Lol

[@paulgleitman7754]

A giant of a man.

[@kalmia01]

I could listen to him forever😍

[@charliegirl3056]

I thought they could have given him a more comfortable chair given his age, and a glass for his water

[@MsQuietPassion]

Really appreciate Mr. Belafonte's contribution to society and humankind. However, I am concerned about the seating used in this interview to accommodate his age and stage for an hour long conversation. Was the chair his choice? #SetDesign #CulturalArts #HarryBelafonte #Discussion

[@bertonilsmith3657]

got so much love and respect for this brother

[@WiiNV]

😥 RIP 🕊️

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

happy 89th birthday harold george harry belafonte !!!!

[@hildanavarro9379]

Loved This Interview 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🌹❤️🌹❤️

[@kahlilking880]

Much appreciated,great man!.

[@lelamahsuri8241]

Enjoyed the nature series of show thanks KZbin.

[@GDSprodify]

Harry Belafonte is Not African-American, He is a Black American, But He is West-Indian American, Caribbean-American or Jamaican-American. Lovely Interview Though Black and African-American Are Not Interchangeable.

[@GDSprodify]

@@deeprose115 I Assume You Call Americans British Too, No?

[@ice9arctican543]

@@GDSprodify The British, the Chinese, the Norwegians, the Nazis - if anyone is a Homo Sapiens, they are African. Basic evolutionary biology.

[@paulettemiranda5296]

Harry was an incredible human being and a fighter for all .

[@rochellewarren6219]

💜💥💥💥💥💥

[@RonCarterBassist]

🙏🏾

[@HhEeAaDd]

What a horrible job the interviewer did with the questions I really wanted to hear the first 2 🤦🏽‍♂️ at least he got to answer the 1st question.

[@christianegonbarnthaler1426]

super 1

[@jazzpoppy1]

B

[@desirealamb2496]

Stop putting these black men on a pedestal when they are worst then they protest against. Or race how ever you look at it

[@monadugas9113]

Earths kitt said Harry said a black woman can do nothing for his career. He was a black man who wanted to be white. That’s the worst kind of black man.

[@mazieford5156]

I think you have misunderstood, what he meant by, that statement, he’s the blackest man you will ever meet, ponder thatstament

[@monadugas9113]

@@mazieford5156 He’s biracial.Ponder that.

[@jimbecarroll5780]

America had some very embarrassing citizens there and still do. And they considered themselves superior and knowing better than ANY person of African descent; but look at the way they showed WHO they were and Some still ARE. So sad how they wanted to deny greatness to someone who IS