Harry Belafonte - RIP

Another great has passed away.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/25/entertainment/harry-belafonte-death/index.html

Oh no! I was actually listening to Harry Belafonte and wondering how old he was as I was reading this!

What a great talent. 

“I wasn’t an artist who’d become an activist,” Mr. Belafonte liked to say. “I was an activist who’d become an artist.”

A casual fan ever since I saw Beetlejuice when I was 9.

My aunt Joan, my mom's sister, was a huge fan. She saw him so many times and got back stage so frequently they became friends. 

Listening about his death today on the radio I was one amazed at how many cool songs I recognized and two amazed at how early they were to what I thought.

Having seen him interviewed about non-musical topics, I have nothing nice to say.

In reply to ddavidv :

His involvement in the civil rights movement or his help organizing the "We are the world" song? 

His hatred of people not of his skin color.

In reply to ddavidv :

I've been trying to think about how to word this.  I've learned in life to try and understand why people are like they are if I agree with them or not.  I don't agree with hating anyone because of their skin color so I'm not making excuses for that here.

So thinking about why he might have been that way.  If you grew up being told that you were worthless and less of a human because of your skin color don't you think you would have issues with the people that treated you that way?  I can easily see how that would affect someone.  Again not right but how many times would you expect someone to just turn another cheek?  

Honestly I really didn't know much about him until yesterday.  I'm glad that I learned more about him than just his music.

ddavidv and Stampster than y'all for sharin' this info....peace out

The circumstances were this:  I knew who he was, but couldn't have told you anything about him or what songs he performed/wrote. This happened back in the early 1990s. He was on a live interview, not something cut/pasted like so many things today to intentionally skew how someone looks. I'm sure it's on the interwebs somewhere, but I don't care enough about the man or this discussion to bother looking. I watched, listened, and formed an opinion about the guy. My take away was he probably wouldn't throw a life preserver to a drowning guy who wasn't his preferred ethnicity.  I'll leave it at that having shared the context of how I formed my opinion. 

All humans are flawed. I learned that studying the various Presidents this country has had (history/biography being one of my hobbies). But, when things are said by a person and you hear it from their lips it is different than reading about it in a book or on a message board. 

Deleted -  I was getting sanctimonious.

In reply to Kreb (Forum Supporter) :

I read it before you deleted. I didn't think it was bad, but I definitely think this thread is headed for a lock. 
 

Everyone has biases.  
 

 Bellafonte was a genius who also applied his biases and anger to fight against racial injustice.

I find it interesting that we have posted over a page of comments on Jerry Springer with levity, and the 7th post in this 14-post thread is sending it to derailment.

I have a specific disdain of the institution that my skin color has created that infused disdain for his skin color.  I'm particularly sensitive to the fact that 400 years of Spain and GB fighting over Jamaica as their own slave trade port - basically obliterating the native Taino people - and leaving it to squalor and fend for itself in the early 60s.  You don't like him because he called out white people?  Fine.  Say these comments in Xaymaca and see how long you last.

Despite his skin color and the racial timbre of the 50s and 60s, the man overcame obstacles to become an EGOT (emmy, grammy, oscar, tony).  The man was a musical, dance, and vocal genius.

Show some respect.

Yep, that excuses his prejudice. <rolleyes>

No need to lock this thread. I'm done. Dissenting opinions once again are not welcome.

...perhaps it is possible to simultaneously respect and admire someone for doing incredible things AND recognize and be critical of their deep flaws.

In reply to Beer Baron :

Thank you. I can only hope others are as gracious about my flaws.

ddavidv said:

Yep, that excuses his prejudice. <rolleyes>

No need to lock this thread. I'm done. Dissenting opinions once again are not welcome.

You expressed your opinion, I expressed mine.  That's how this works.  Your dissenting opinion is just as welcome.  If you want to take your ball and go home, that's on you, but I'd love to debate on this.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Curtis, you have a very strange perspective on this (my opinion obviously).  You talk of institutions that "your skin color created" which I find bizarre. 

Skin color created an institution? People with that skin color felt compelled, by their skin color, to create that institution?   Should then all people of that particular color have that tendency?  (Skin color being a genetic characteristic).

I am well informed in history, and you are the one that wanted to (love to) discuss this.

One of the basic characteristics of racism is applying generalized characteristics (typically something involving superiority or inferiority) to a group of people based on their race, which many times (in its most simplistic, and in my option, most idiotic and baseless form) is based on the color of their skin.

Your comment implies that.  That is why I asked for clarification.  If you want to stand on your comment as it is written (take your ball), you are certainly free to do that.

In reply to aircooled :

Im just going to apologize. I had a crap day and I lashed out without putting my filter in my mouth. My apologies to all.

Thank you for your graciousness.  Bad days happen.

I hope you have a much better day tomorrow. 

And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, are how adults are supposed to behave.