Harry Belafonte: Singer, activist, humanitarian, Navy veteran, legend, dead at 96
By
Joslin Joseph
Updated on
Apr 25, 2023
Harry Belafonte was among the greatest of the Greatest Generation. While he was known around the world for his singing, activism and humanitarian work, he also served the United States…
Harry Belafonte was among the greatest of the Greatest Generation. While he was known around the world for his singing, activism and humanitarian work, he also served the United States as a sailor in the Navy during World War II. With his passing today, we wanted to look back on his extraordinary life, including his service to our country.
Known as the “King of Calypso,” Harry Belafonte introduced America to the sounds of the Caribbean, singing songs from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, among other countries. After achieving stardom, Belafonte could have rested on his laurels as an entertainer and lived a comfortable life. But from his time living in Jamaica to going to school in New York to touring the United States, he saw what things weren’t right and used his stardom, voice and stature to speak out for Civil Rights well before it was fashionable – right up until his passing.
Belafonte was in high school when he decided to drop out and enlist so he could contribute to the war effort. He was only 17 when he signed up and was assigned to Port Chicago, located in San Francisco.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/harry-belafonte/