The history of black civil rights is the story of America’s social structure. It is the narrative of how for centuries a selection of whites made African Americans into a slave class, easily identifiable because of their dark skin, and then reaped the benefits, sometimes using law, sometimes using religion, and sometimes using violence to keep this system in place.
Activists have made incredible progress over the past 150 years, but institutional racism is still one of the strongest social forces in America today.
The crusades of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, Bayard Rustin, Stokely Carmichael or Kwame Ture, Malcolm X, Julian Bond, Eldridge Cleaver, Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, James Farmer, Rev. Jesse Jackson, former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, former NAACP chairman Julian Bond and Rep. John Lewis , Dorothy Height, as well as the efforts of ordinary people like Rep. Bobby Rush and Fannie Lou Hamer, are mentioned and highlighted to remind us of past struggles.
But there is a name that is often missing. It is the name of a person who embodies and characterizes righteousness, honesty and integrity. It is Harry Belafonte, a renowned civil rights activist who worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and who has valiantly and selflessly devoted himself towards something greater than fortune or fame.
This civil and human rights campaigner whom I consider to have been extremely significant has mysteriously escaped becoming a household name. His exploits are more amazing than fiction; however, Belafonte’s rightful place in history is rarely acknowledged. One only has to look at his consciousness, awareness and fulfillment to see what I mean.
His bravery, tenacity and leadership skills are clearly conspicuous to have been noticed by his peers in the entertainment industry, but even more important. They are highly praised by the country’s foremost social activists. He earns his place in history as the man who worked alongside everyone from Paul Robeson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Now HBO has released the critically acclaimed Harry Belafonte documentary Sing Your Song and Belafonte has published his long-awaited autobiography, My Song.
Sing Your Song is described as “a journey through the civil rights movement and the last 60 years of social struggle” and said to emphasize “an inspiring life that has paralleled the American civil rights movement, artist and crusader Harry Belafonte has tirelessly used his humanitarian influence to advance the causes of social justice.”
Belafonte expressed to the New York Times, “About my own life, I have no complaints. Yet the problems faced by most Americans of color seem as dire and entrenched as they were half a century ago.”
Speaking recently to the New York publication The Root, the singer and activist pointed out the parallels of the activists of the Occupy movement to the civil rights movement. He revealed although he built his career as a singer and actor, his greatest legacy may be his role as an activist on social issues, beginning with his involvement with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He said he made the pilgrimage to the Occupy Wall Street site in New York to better understand the motives of the activists who have changed the discussion about the financial debacle of the last four years.
We must not forget our history, our heroes, and our legacy. We must remember and honor Harry Belafonte while he lives.
Please listen to the Bernie Hayes radio program Monday through Friday at 7am and 4 pm on WGNU-920 AM, or live on the Web @ www.wgnu920am.com.
And please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday Night at 10pm and Friday Morning at 9 am and Sunday Evenings at 5:30 pm on KNLC-TV Ch. 24.
I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net.
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