Remembering Harry Belafonte
By Rafiq TaylorI struggle to find words to describe Harry Belafonte’s societal impact.
The legendary recording artist and activist died on April 25, 2023 at the age of 96. It’s hard for words to capture the scope, or embody his depth of character. He was a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, embodying an intricate framework of art and activism.
Thinking on this, I’m compelled to speak about the Charlotta Bass Lab’s trip to the Regeneration exhibit at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. We attended on a cool afternoon, back during the Fall 2022 semester. Mr. Belafonte was a centerpiece of the exhibition, as it highlighted the many celebrities who organized and attended the March on Washington. I remember one of the quotes on the wall that was attributed to him. It read:
“The only way that we could speak to the pain and the anguish of our experiences was often through how we codified our stories in the songs that we sang.”
The Regeneration space was a fascinating curation of codified resistance. It’s maintained with care, and is emblematic of the way Belafonte speaks of his legacy. Always with poise, he gently described the nature of quiet rebellion that inspires his voice.
I was surprised by how early in time the exhibit went, displaying examples of the complicated paradox of black minstrelsy, evolving through the segregated pictures of the 1930s and even including a glimpse of the little-known “Soundies” that demonstrate the lasting presence of black performance.
“What I had discovered in the theater was power: power to influence, power to know of others and know of other things.” The very existence of the Regeneration exhibit is a demonstration of that revealing and lasting power. Witnessing the evolution of that power over time, I’m reminded that Harry Belafonte was more than a moment. His finger was always unwaveringly on the pulse of social justice, his words and his songs cemented in amber.
“A lot of people say to me, 'When as an artist did you decide to become an activist?' I say to them, 'I was long an activist before I became an artist.’”
Harry Belafonte is a figure who dared to speak beyond himself. As I say goodbye, I’m still inspired by his example.
Rafiq Taylor is a public relations and advertising master’s student at USC’s Annenberg School. He is an inaugural Charlotta Bass Fellow and an avid podcaster.