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Harry Belafonte Quotes

Powerful Harry Belafonte for Daily Growth

About Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte, born Harold George Belafonte Jr. on March 1, 1927, in New York City, is an iconic American singer, actor, and social activist who significantly impacted the worlds of music and civil rights. Raised by his single mother, Melvina Belafonte, a housekeeper, Harry grew up in Harlem where he developed a deep appreciation for African-American culture. Inspired by Paul Robeson's powerful performances and activism, Belafonte sought to follow in those footsteps. He began his career as a janitor in the Drama Workshop theater, where he later met and befriended actors such as Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes. Belafonte made his debut on Broadway in 1953 with "John Murray Anderson's Almanac," leading to his first film role in 1957's "Island in the Sun." However, it was his 1956 album, "Calypso," that catapulted him to international stardom. The title track became the first million-selling album by a single artist, launching Belafonte as the "King of Calypso." Throughout his career, Belafonde used his platform to advocate for civil rights. He organized the 1968 march on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Additionally, he was a close friend and collaborator with Dr. King, helping to fundraise for the Civil Rights Movement. In later years, Belafonte continued acting, earning an Emmy Award for his role in the television series "Julia." He also established the non-profit organization, Gathering Together, which provides educational opportunities to underserved communities. Harry Belafonte's legacy encompasses not just his contributions to music and entertainment, but also his unwavering commitment to social justice and equality.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The future has an appearance of inevitability when seen from the vantage point of the present."

This quote by Harry Belafonte suggests that our understanding of the future is often shaped by our current perspective. It implies that as we stand in the present, the future appears predictable or inevitable because it is influenced by our existing knowledge, beliefs, and experiences. However, this perspective fails to acknowledge the inherent uncertainty and transformative power of time. The future, while influenced by the present, remains unwritten, capable of being shaped by unexpected events and new discoveries, thus holding endless possibilities.

"To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

This quote by Harry Belafonte suggests that true freedom isn't just about liberation from constraints, but also about acting in a manner that values and promotes the freedom of others. It implies that individual liberty should be exercised responsibly, considering the potential impact on the freedoms of others, fostering a harmonious and mutually respectful society.

"In the end, love is a better master than duty."

This quote suggests that while duty and obligation play important roles in life, love has a stronger and more profound impact on individuals and their actions. Love, as a powerful emotion, can inspire us to act selflessly, go beyond what's expected, and bring us closer to others. It can guide our decisions and choices in a way that transcends mere obedience or adherence to rules, making it a more effective force for good in our lives. Essentially, the quote emphasizes the transformative power of love over the rigid nature of duty.

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."

Harry Belafonte's quote suggests that giving not only brings about positive change for the recipient but also serves as a means of personal fulfillment and liberation for the giver. The act of giving can release or free one from emotional burdens, fostering a sense of purpose and satisfaction, thus enriching the giver's soul. Giving can take various forms, such as offering resources, time, support, kindness, or love, and it is through this selfless action that individuals can experience spiritual growth and personal transformation.

"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people."

This quote highlights the powerful impact of inaction or silence when faced with oppression and cruelty. Belafonte suggests that while it's unfortunate when such acts are perpetrated, it's even more tragic when those who have the power to challenge these actions choose not to do so. The implication is that indifference or silence allows oppressive systems to persist and reinforces the suffering of the marginalized. Therefore, it's crucial for good people to use their voices and take action to combat injustice.

Without the rebellious heart, without people who understand that there's no sacrifice we can make that is too great to retrieve that which we've lost, we will forever be distracted with possessions and trinkets and title.

- Harry Belafonte

Understand, Will, Which, Rebellious

This generosity that has been offered to the United States says very much about the Venezuelan spirit.

- Harry Belafonte

Been, United States, Very, Generosity

Poverty was my mother's midwife. She had her children in poverty. But she also found a road to bring us a sense of purpose, and she taught us how to be valiant in the face of oppression.

- Harry Belafonte

Purpose, Bring, Had, Midwife

If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all humankind - then you have no choice but to back Fidel Castro as long as it takes!

- Harry Belafonte

Harmony, Humankind, Castro, None

I call President Bush a terrorist. I call those around him terrorists as well: Condoleezza Rice, Rumsfeld, Gonzales in the Justice Department, and certainly Cheney.

- Harry Belafonte

Certainly, Rumsfeld, Bush, Cheney

When I was 20 and 30, my visions for what the world would be, all things were possible.

- Harry Belafonte

World, Possible, Would, Visions

Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle still continues.

- Harry Belafonte

Racism, Been, Still, Crippling

Our foreign policy has made a wreck of this planet. I'm always in Africa... And when I go to these places I see American policy written on the walls of oppression everywhere.

- Harry Belafonte

Always, Africa, Made, American Policy

Fascism is fascism. Terrorism is terrorism. Oppression is oppression.

- Harry Belafonte

Oppression, Terrorism, Fascism

All too often, I'm sorry to say, I relegated my family to the cracks and margins.

- Harry Belafonte

Sorry, Margins, Too, Cracks

Movements don't die, because struggle doesn't die.

- Harry Belafonte

Die, Because, Movements, Struggle

I grew up in the Great Depression, and the jazz artists and Dixieland musicians were at the core of our communications and enjoyment. They were not passing fancies. They are something that is, and will be, listened to again and again. I have a space of reverence for some of those old jazz stars such as Sydney Bechet and Louis Armstrong.

- Harry Belafonte

Musicians, Jazz, Some, Passing

John Steinbeck is one of the most under-discussed and under-written-about of all American writers. He is way up there and should stand on a par, or even above, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.

- Harry Belafonte

Par, Ernest Hemingway, Faulkner

I knew Charlie Parker, and he gave us such a gift with his music. He put so much into so little space, and it was tragic that he died so young.

- Harry Belafonte

Gift, Young, Charlie Parker, Parker

I don't think soldiers should be anywhere in the world. I mean, that is a moral and a basic philosophy. I think that the only way to end wars is to have no military and to find other ways in which - I think we should suspend all nuclear weapons.

- Harry Belafonte

Soldiers, Other, I Think, Weapons

If you want to look at the Monroe Doctrine and what happened when we wrote that, we stated what the business would be for America's power, especially in this hemisphere. We have always been the colonizer of this hemisphere, wherever we've been.

- Harry Belafonte

Business, Always, Been, Wherever

I'm not quite sure precisely when social and political activism became a visible brand of my DNA, but it seems to me that I was born into it. It is hard to be born into the experience in the world of poverty and not develop some instinct for survival and resistance to those things that oppress you.

- Harry Belafonte

Some, Instinct, Became, Brand

You can be arrested and not charged. You can be arrested and have no right to counsel.

- Harry Belafonte

Right, Arrested, Counsel, Charged

The Ku Klux Klan, for some of us, is a constant - has a constant existence. It isn't until it touches certain aspects of white America that white America all of the sudden wakes up to the fact that there is something called the Klan and that it does its mischief.

- Harry Belafonte

Some, Constant, Mischief, Wakes

My activism always existed. My art gave me the platform to do something about the activism.

- Harry Belafonte

Art, Me, Always, Activism

Poverty is terror. Having your Social Security threatened is terror. Having your livelihood as an elderly person slowly disappearing with no replenishment is terror.

- Harry Belafonte

Social, Terror, Having, Slowly

America has never been moved to perfect our desire for greater democracy without radical thinking and radical voices being at the helm of any such quest.

- Harry Belafonte

Desire, Perfect, Been, Helm

What makes a movement work are thousands of parts that come together and express itself in favor of a given destination or objective. You have to find men and women who are willing to play the role that each of these things demand.

- Harry Belafonte

Play, Role, Willing, Objective

One of the true pleasures of my life has been the work of John Steinbeck. He was one of the people who turned my life around. I had no direct relationship with him, unfortunately.

- Harry Belafonte

My Life, Been, Turned, Unfortunately

I'm always suspicious of celebrities that write about their lives.

- Harry Belafonte

Always, Lives, Celebrities, Suspicious

I think there's no city quite like New York, and I've seen most of the developed cities of the world. I admire this place, its energy. It's the repository of so much history and culture and diversity.

- Harry Belafonte

City, Admire, I Think, Repository

I think New York City most represents what it is that America in general aspires to. It's big; it's dense. I've known this city from all of its social arcs. The best that's in America is yet to come. The worst that's in America is yet to come.

- Harry Belafonte

City, Big, I Think, Dense

You can cage the singer but not the song.

- Harry Belafonte

Song, You, Singer, Cage

I've always been supportive of the right of Israel as a state, and I've always fought against anti-Semitism, even in my own community.

- Harry Belafonte

Always, Supportive, Been, Anti-Semitism

I think Bush has a very selfish, arrogant point of view. I think he is interested in power, I think he believes his truth is the only truth, and that he will do what he wants to do despite the people.

- Harry Belafonte

Think, I Think, Very, Truth Is

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