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Black greekdom is recently mourning the dying of Harry Belafonte, the long-lasting American singer, actor, social activist, and Honorary Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. who passed on to the great beyond Tuesday, on the age of 96. In step with his publicist Ken Sunshine, his passing was once because of congestive center failure at his New York house, his spouse Pamela by way of his aspect.
Belafonte, regularly known as the “King of Calypso,” was once recognized for his easy vocals, political activism, and contributions to the civil rights motion.
Born in Harlem in 1927, Belafonte’s profession started within the Forties as a jazz vocalist, however he discovered his calling within the calypso track of the Caribbean. He rose to status within the Fifties with hits like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Music)” and “Leap within the Line,” and his track introduced the sounds of the Caribbean to the American mainstream.
Belafonte was once additionally a trailblazer within the leisure business, changing into one of the vital first African-American actors to seem on tv and starring in movies like “Carmen Jones” and “Island within the Solar.”
Nevertheless it was once his dedication to social justice that in reality set Belafonte aside. He was once a vocal supporter of the civil rights motion, operating along Martin Luther King Jr. and serving as a key monetary backer of the motion. He additionally fought towards apartheid in South Africa and advocated for the rights of refugees and immigrants.
Belafonte won a large number of awards and accolades all over his lifestyles, together with a Kennedy Heart Honor, the Nationwide Medal of Arts, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences.
In 2014, Belofante become an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Watch the video beneath to look his pinning rite speech.
Watch the speech that he gave at Phi Beta Sigma’s Centennial Gala in 2014:
Belafonte’s legacy as an artist, activist, and humanitarian will proceed to encourage generations to return. He’ll be deeply neglected by way of his circle of relatives, buddies, and lovers world wide.
We ask that you just stay Harry Belafonte’ circle of relatives, buddies, lovers and fraternity brothers on your ideas. We additionally ask that you just go away your condolences and reminiscences of him in order that his circle of relatives can see how a lot he intended to all folks all over his illustrious profession.
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