February 20th 2024.
A special event is set to take place on March 1st at Riverside Church in New York City, where we will gather to honor and celebrate the remarkable life of cultural icon Harry Belafonte. This event, titled "Celebration of Life," coincides with what would have been Belafonte's 97th birthday and was chosen by him to be a more fitting tribute than a traditional funeral service. We will come together to pay tribute to Belafonte's extraordinary achievements, such as his instrumental role in providing funding for the civil rights movement, his groundbreaking achievement as the first artist to sell a million-copy album, and his trailblazing win as the first Black Emmy recipient. We will also honor his groundbreaking concept of "We Are The World," which has raised millions of dollars for important causes worldwide.
The evening will be filled with heartfelt remarks, musical performances, and video messages from those who have been touched by Belafonte's life and work. Born in Harlem in 1927 to Caribbean parents, Belafonte's cultural roots were diverse and rich. As a child, he spent time in Jamaica, where he was exposed to the vibrant rhythms of calypso music and also witnessed the damaging effects of colorism. When he returned to New York, he pursued a career in drama and was mentored by the legendary Paul Robeson, whose dedication to social activism inspired Belafonte's own work in using the arts as a tool for global change.
Belafonte's 1956 album, Calypso, was a groundbreaking success, becoming the first album to sell a million copies in just one year. This album not only introduced Caribbean folk music to American audiences but also left a lasting impact on today's music scene, with songs from the album being sampled by popular artists such as Gotye, Lil Wayne, and Jason Derulo. In the 1960s, Belafonte became a powerful voice for the civil rights movement, standing alongside his close friend, Martin Luther King Jr. He continued to use his platform for good, organizing the iconic "We Are The World" benefit and serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for over three decades. Belafonte was also a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, serving as Grand Marshal in the 2013 NYC Pride Parade and acting as an advisor for the Women's March on Washington.
Belafonte's legacy and impact were recognized and honored throughout his life, including being awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2021 and posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Sadly, Belafonte passed away in April 2023 at the age of 96 due to congestive heart failure. However, his legacy continues to live on, and last year he was honored by the state of New York's Senate and Assembly with an official tribute.
We invite you to join us at 6 p.m. on March 1st for Belafonte's "Celebration of Life" event, which will be livestreamed on Roland S. Martin's YouTube channel and the Black Star Network app. Let us come together to honor and celebrate the life of a true cultural icon, whose impact and contributions will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.
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