Harry Belafonte Dies at 96

He has smashed many racial barriers across the world, the world has indeed lost a real warrior. A warrior for justice, a warrior for civil rights, a warrior for peace, a warrior for human rights, and a warrior for freedom.

His achievements have been documented in so many ways, in so many areas, as an entertainer, as a civil rights activist, a freedom fighter, and humanitarian and in all he has excelled. He has led the way to a new dawn, a new reckoning for people of color and for justice around the world.

Belafonte brought the culture of the Caribbean to the heights, early in the 1950s when he popularized clips of music with a breakthrough album `Calypso’ which was the first album by a solo artist to sell over 1 million copies, nothing surpassed Belafonte’s love and commitment for his homeland and for the region of Jamaica, and it was through his music that the Caribbean and Jamaica was placed on the world stage through the years; from his well-known Banana Boat Song, Jamaica Farewell and Jump in the Line.

Belafonte brought the culture of the people at the highest level that was respected and, his early days as an entertainer brought this awareness he carried this through film and stage and we know of his success as he became the first Black person to win an Emmy at the 1960 awards ceremony, for his performance in “The Revlon Revue: Tonight With Belafonte.

He was a Tony Award winner and the first Black person to host a national TV show, he was nominated for eleven Grammys and won two. We could watch his career and in fact, see the record-breaking activities of a dedicated human being.

Throughout his career, Belafonte never missed a step to work in the effort for freedom and from the civil rights movements in the 1960s where he not only funded, but guided the movement through many difficult years, through the anti-apartheid movement for South Africa. Mr. Belafonte was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1987, over the decades, he worked for children and eliminate hunger and suffering. Belafonte was always there from stage one, working and showing the way. We had the personal pleasure of his friendship through decades and had opportunities to listen and be part of conversations that Harry Belafonte would have with other titans like himself, Ambassador Andrew Young, former NYC mayor David Dinkins, Congressman Charles Rangel, Labor Leader Cleveland Robinson, and it was just heartwarming to be in the company of these men and recounting their effort through the years. The loss of Harry Belafonte that the world mourns so adequately and so deeply is also one that we mourn because of a long and rewarding friendship with Mr. Belafonte.

He saw in Carib News’ statement of purpose, a point of view that had consistency and that he could relate to and from our very first meeting was drawn to the mission of working to empower and engage our people and our community and was supportive from day one. And so we have had that friendship through the years.

He encouraged the Carib News Business Conference and the mission of the conference to pull people together from Africa, the Caribbean and African Americans and he attended several conferences, pushing that mission, supporting that mission, and being a part of planning that mission. And so through the years, the opportunity to work with Mr. Belafonte was one that we cherished and one that was rewarding. So for us, the impact and loss of this great human being is personal and immediate.

We must express our appreciation for the many years of his guidance, his support, and his participation in the programs, events, and activities of Carib News over the last 40 years. His engagement and development of the Caribbean Multi-national Business Conference and his term, what he calls “the banquet of ideas” that comes from these meetings is one that we respect and one that we want to maintain in terms of the quality that would be respectful of his contribution. His support of the American Foundation from the University of the West Indies when Carl was chairing that association, brought support to the mission and through the years was personally involved in the development,

We will miss a steadfast support that you could depend on in the darkest of days and in the toughest of situations, you could draw strength from listening to Harry, sharing his stories with us and just by sheer strength of ideas and commitment, we were encouraged to move and press along. We will be forever grateful for the friendship that he has bestowed upon us and for the access he has offered to us on the road of life, for the many inspiring stories and demonstrations of life that he has pointed the way for us. He has always demonstrated the best in humanity in words and action, and will always be recognized for the drive for equality and justice that he so fervently fought for throughout his life. And how he has touched so many lives over the decades in the conference that we have organized and so many millions of lives that he has touched around the world and continues to be even in his legacy, inspire.

It is clear that Harry Belafonte’s presence in the world has left this place a better world. His presence in all the areas that we have enumerated from entertainment to civil rights has left the world in a better position. His moral guidance will be missed, but there are lessons to be learned and we can, just from looking at his life, we can cherish the memories and we can work to follow the examples and live the life that he has and the commitment to decency and humanity. He has selaed his prensence among Titans like himself add Rex Nettleford whom he adored.

We wish to express our personal condolences to his wife Pamela and his children Adrienne, Shari, David, Gina, his grandchildren and other members of the family.

We know that they can all be comforted in the memory and in the pride of the life that Harry Belafonte lived and his achievements in all these many areas. We honor the life and legacy of Harry Belafonte an inspiration and example for all. Let us use this inspiration in whatever way and manner we can, large or