BELAFONTE (1)

Harry 1

There is a popular belief that when one famous person dies, within several days, two more famous persons die. Recently, three died on the same day. A pioneer in music. A trailblazer in movies, stage, and TV. And a shining example of a fearless activist in the fight to make the world a better place for all.

Harry Belafonte, nee, Harold George Bellanfanti, Jr., was born in Harlem, NYC, March 1, 1927. On April 25, 2023, Harry Belafonte died, and the world lost a trio of greatness in his death. He had a great many achievements to be tallied in those 96 years. Hall of Fame achievements in show business and in humanitarianism. And he valued his success in the later over his success in the former.

When he was just a toddler, 1932. he was sent to Jamaica to live with his grandmother and returned to Harlem in 1940 for a better education. Four years later, he embarked on his journey of dedication to do what he believed in. At the age of 17, Belafonte dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Navy.

US Navy – 1944 -1945

It was the height of the US involvement in WWII. It was also the age of the segregated military. Very few blacks were allowed to fight and perhaps die for their county. And those few who were, were in completely black-outfits, like the Tusagee Airmen.

(It wasn’t until then President Harry Truman signed the Executive Order, on July, 25, 1948, that abolished segregation in the US military. A major step leading to Civil Rights.)

Just as blacks were brought to America as slaves to do the heavy lifting, blacks were confined to do much the same in WWII. Harry was assigned to Port Chicago, CA, to load ammunition on ships bound for the Pacific Theater. He got there just a few days after Port Chicago experienced the largest home-front disaster of the war.

On 7/17/1944, there was a munitions explosion as two ships were being loaded, killing 320 black sailors, who had no training whatsoever in the loading of munitions. For months prior, the men had complained and asked for training and safety measures…only to be told to just do the work and shut up. This disaster also had serious repercussions in the already shortage of ammo in both theaters of war

Even after that horrendous disaster, work at the port continued as usual. Finally, a month later a strike was held to demand something to be done. The Navy’s answer was to put 60 of the strike leaders in prison for over a year. And told the others to do the work and shut up.

Young Harry Belafonte took part in the strike, but was not considered one of the leaders. He did however get his first lesson in racism at the highest level of the American way of life…a lesson that would serve as a foundation for his fight for Civil Rights in the years to come.

(It took 79 years before the US condemned the racist action and exonerated the 60 men and recognized the 320 who died carrying out an unlawful order.)

Upon his discharge at the war’s end, he returned to New York City, the city he loved most. While working as a janitor, he was given a ticket to see a production at the American Negro Theater. And he found his new goal, to act.

That’s a wrap for Act One

Coming up

Harry & Sydney

Actors/Activists/ Friends

To be continued