Harry Belafonte: The Actor & Activist Died at the Age of 96

Harry Belafonte, a musician, actor, and human rights advocate, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 96 from congestive heart failure. He overcame racial boundaries and managed to combine his artistic talent with his advocacy in a way that captivated audiences all over the world.

Harry Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist, passed away at 96 years old.

Belafonte, who received an EGOT award alongside his Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony wins, died at home in New York, according to his spokesperson.

 As a performer, Harry Belafonte possessed style, class, and charisma.

Harlem is where Belafonte was born. His parents were both natives of the Caribbean. Moreover, his mom was Jamaican, while his father was from Martinique. His mother, a housekeeper, transported him back to Jamaica, where he was exposed to the local way of life. The musician revealed to NPR in 2011 that the street vendors he overheard singing inspired him to create “The Banana Boat Song.”

The melody is a working song,” he explained. “It’s concerning men who work all day and are underpaid.” And the rebellious song was a hit. The best-selling album Calypso spent a number of weeks in 1956 at the peak of Billboard’s then-recently established album charts. Harry Belafonte left high school and enlisted in the Navy a long time ago. He had recently returned from World War II service and was employed as a janitor’s helper when he received tickets to an event at the American Negro Opera. He was captivating.

 Along with Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier, he began his schooling there.

He also began performing in clubs. He received a recording contract rather quickly. Furthermore, He was honor with a Tony Award in 1954 for his performance in the revue “John Murray Anderson’s Almanack: A Musical Harlequinade.” He played on TV variety program and as a movie star. He received a one-hour program on CBS in 1959. The show received the first Emmy Award for an African-American.

More concerts were request by Revlon. CBS networks in the south reportedly objected about its diverse cast, according to Belafonte. He said that he was instructing to make it entirely Black in interviews. According to him, he declined and left the program. Similarly, In his 90s, Harry Belafonte continued to be an activist. He claimed to have learned that from his mother when speaking to NPR in 2011.

Furthermore, She was adamant about maintaining her dignity. She once told me that she had returned from a day in which she had trouble finding employment. Don’t ever let unfairness go uncontested, she said while trying to hold back tears.

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