[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E153-E154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECOGNIZING THE LIFETIME 
              ACHIEVEMENTS OF HAROLD GEORGE BELAFONTE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2012

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in celebration of National 
Black History Month and to recognize the lifetime achievements of my 
good friend, Harold ``Harry'' George Belafonte, Jr., an American and 
International Hero. Black History Month is an appropriate time to pay 
homage to Harry Belafonte and his amazing, incredibly impressive, 
inspiring and historic renowned career, which began at the age of 19 in 
the United States Navy during World War II. After taking advantage of 
the G.I. Bill, his career soared as an actor, musician, singer, 
producer, and civil rights and humanitarian activist. Due to Harry 
Belafonte's lifetime achievements our nation and the world are far 
better.
  After the Great War, Harry attended and graduated from The New School 
for Social Research in New York City. Harry began appearing in jazz 
clubs, cabarets, and soon began recording his wonderful pop, folk, and 
world music albums. His acting career took off after his 1953 film 
debut in Bright Road. Many movies and performances later, Harry 
Belafonte received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway performance 
in John Murray Anderson's Almanac. Although he was acknowledged for his 
talent, it wasn't until he played a lead role in the film Carmen that 
he became a true star. Harry was able to use his new popularity to 
boost his album sales and create a need in the United States for 
Caribbean music that had lacked before. He then went on to win an Emmy 
for his special Tonight with Harry Belafonte, and was bestowed the 
honor of first African American producer.
  With Paul Robeson as his inspiration, Harry took art and activism to 
new levels. During his 43 years of fame, Belafonte worked against 
social injustice. Throughout the civil rights movement, he advised and 
served as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s confidant and he 
worked to provide for King's family. His dedication led Harry to be 
blacklisted during the McCarthy era, like many other civil rights 
activists. He bailed King out of the Birmingham City Jail and raised 
thousands of dollars to release other civil rights protesters. Harry 
managed to mobilize the Hollywood community, finance Freedom Rides, 
support voter registration drives, and help to organize the March on 
Washington in 1963, where he delivered an inspiring speech. Harry went 
on to serve in President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's administration, as 
cultural advisor to the Peace Corps.
  A true humanitarian Harry Belafonte is best known for his landmark 
music collaboration, ``We Are the World,'' which joined many 
musicians--including songwriters and producers Michael Jackson, Lionel 
Richie, Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian--together. USA for Africa was 
able to use this song to help raise millions of dollars to help relieve 
famine in Ethiopia. Harry continued his work by becoming UNICEF's 
Goodwill Ambassador in 1986. Harry carries on his incredible work by 
supporting causes such as HIV/AIDS and cancer research and educating 
children.
  Harry was an outspoken critic of apartheid in South Africa, and he 
and Arthur Ashe Co-chaired Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid, 
which played a major role in international sports boycott against South 
Africa. In 1988, Harry released his first album of original material in 
over a decade, Paradise in Gazankulu. The album contains ten protest 
songs against the South African former Apartheid policy. He was the 
Master of Ceremonies at a reception honoring African National Congress 
President Oliver Tambo at Roosevelt House, Hunter College, in New York 
City. The reception was held by the American Committee on Africa, ACOA, 
and The Africa Fund. Today, Harry is a current board member of the 
TransAfrica Forum and the Institute for Policy Studies.
  Following his appointment Harry traveled to Dakar, Senegal, where he 
served as chairman of the International Symposium of Artists and 
Intellectuals for African Children. He also helped to raise funds, 
alongside other artists in the largest concert ever held in sub-Saharan 
Africa. In 1994 he went on a mission to Rwanda and launched a media 
campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children. In 2001 
he went to South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS. In 
2002, Africare awarded him the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished 
Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts to assist Africa. In 2004 
Harry went to Kenya to stress the importance of educating children in 
the region. Harry has also been involved in prostate cancer advocacy 
since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated for the 
disease.
  On June 27, 2006, Harry was the recipient of the BET Humanitarian 
Award at the 2006 BET Awards. He was named one of nine 2006 Impact 
Award recipients by AARP The Magazine. On October 19, 2007, Harry 
represented UNICEF on Norwegian television to support the annual 
telethon--TV Aksjonen--in support of that charity and helped raise a 
world record of $10 per inhabitant of Norway.
  Harry is additionally known for his visit to Cuba which helped ensure 
hip-hop's place in Cuban society. According to Geoffrey Baker's article 
``Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap in Cuba.'' Harry, in 1999 met 
with representatives of the rap community immediately before meeting 
with Fidel Castro. This meeting resulted in Castro's personal approval 
of the incorporation of rap into his country's culture. In a 2003 
interview Harry reflected upon this meeting's influence:
  ``When I went back to Havana a couple years later, the people in the 
hip-hop community came to see me and we hung out for a bit. They 
thanked me profusely and I said, `Why?' and they said, `Because your 
little conversation with Fidel and the Minister of Culture on hip-hop 
led to there being a special division within the ministry and we've got 
our own studio'.''
  On October 17, 2011, HBO Films released the documentary, Sing Your 
Song, which details a close look at the life of a patriot to the last 
and a champion for worldwide human rights. Told from Harry's point of 
view, the film charts his life from a boy born in New York and raised 
in Jamaica, who returns to Harlem in his early teens where he discovers 
the American Negro Theater and the magic of performing. From Harlem to 
Mississippi to Africa and South Central Los Angeles, Sing Your

[[Page E154]]

Song takes us on a journey through Harry Belafonte's life, work and 
most of all, his conscience, as it inspires us all in a call to action.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you, my colleagues and a very grateful nation as 
we celebrate National Black History Month to recognize the achievements 
of the world's humanitarian, and Harlem's beloved, Harry Belafonte.

                          ____________________