DAY-O: THE MELODY LINGERS ON…

Sixteen years ago, Harry Belafonte came to UNM’s Popejoy Hall for a speaking engagement. Not a concert—a talk. I was asked to interview Mr. Belafonte, thanks to event sponsor Dr. Finnie Coleman, who was then-director of UNM’s Africana Studies, and Ronnie Wallace, the publisher of local African American periodical The Perspective. The assignment conversation recap went like this, “You’re asking ME if I want to interview HARRY BELAFONTE?? Have you met me?? I have his Return to Carnegie Hall album on my living room mantel!”

Mr. Belafonte was then 80 years old and still one of the most beautiful men, inside and out, on planet Earth. That afternoon, I learned about his life and his passion to have our community organize around gun violence and high BIPOC youth incarceration rates. In a sold-out Popejoy Hall, Mr. Belafonte explained his humble Jamaican immigrant family origins, his art, his activism, Paul Robeson’s influence, his support of the Civil Rights Movement, and his commitment to continue to use his voice to create change. From the moment he began with just the opening word of his signature tune “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” we sat on the edge of our seats knowing that we were privileged to be in the presence of greatness.

Though he lived to be 96, Mr. Belafonte left us wanting more, which is every artist’s goal. Like the overworked dockworkers he sang about in “Day-O,” daylight has come and he gets to go home. As for me, I will never forget his voice raised in song and advocacy. Au revoir, Mr. Belafonte–you have earned your rest.