Farewell Comrade Harry Belafonte: Day-O

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

1927-2023

Harry Belafonte, the singer, actor and civil rights activist who broke down racial barriers, has died aged 96.

As well as performing global hits such as Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), winning a Tony award for acting and appearing in numerous feature films, Belafonte spent his life fighting for a variety of causes. He bankrolled numerous 1960s initiatives to bring civil rights to Black Americans; campaigned against poverty, apartheid and Aids in Africa; and supported leftwing political figures such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.

The cause of death was congestive heart failure, his spokesman told the New York Times. Figures including Joe Biden, the rapper Ice Cube and Mia Farrow paid tribute to Belafonte. The US president said Belafonte was a “groundbreaking American who used his talent and voice to help redeem the soul of our nation”.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/25/harry-belafonte-singe...

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Kofi Bilal Mahmud Eid AlFitr 1443 A.H.

http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blogs/6273430:B...

Kofi Bilal Mahmud

Executive Director

Oppressed Peoples Online Word 

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Until Forever
We learned to love you
From the heights of history.
You beat the death
With the light of your bravery.

Here stays the clear,
And fond transparency
Of your dear existence,
Comandante Che Guevara.

You approach burning the breeze,
With the sunlight of spring,
To plant the flag,
With the light of your smile.

Here stays the clear,
And fond transparency
Of your dear existence,
Comandante Che Guevara.

Your revolutionary love
Leads you to a new formation,
Where they wait for
The strength of your liberating arm.

Here stays the clear,
And fond transparency
Of your dear existence,
Commander Che Guevara.

We'll march forward,
Like we marched with you.
And with Fidel we will tell you,
Until Forever, Comandante!

Here stays the clear,
And fond transparency
Of your dear existence,
Comandante Che Guevara.

Che: "That time will be growing every day, that time will no longer stop."
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/hasta-siempre-until-forever.html

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Justice Initiative   About Harry Belafonte and His Involvement with Black Farmers Harry Belafonte and Ralph Paige in 2003 at a Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund event (Photo: Heather Gray) On May 2, 2023, the renowned singer and social justice activist Harry Belafonte passed at the age of 96. I was fortunate to know Belafonte over the years and this was thanks to my son, Scott Gray, which I explain below.  However, the first time I saw Harry Belafonte was in 1968 in Atlanta after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on Thursday, April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. This was the beginning of additional contact with Belafonte years later. Belafonte had worked closely with Dr. King in the 1960's in support of King's civil and human rights organizing initiatives. When Dr. King was assassinated, Belafonte, of course, wanted to pay his respects to Coretta Scott King and that’s where I first saw him – at Mrs. King’s house in Atlanta in 1968. By Monday, April 8, 1968 people started arriving into Atlanta for the King funeral, which was to take place at Dr. King’s church, Ebenezer Baptist, on April 9th. I volunteered to assist the Student Non-Violent Committee (SNCC) by driving, into the city of Atlanta, those who were arriving at the airport to attend the King funeral. In my car, along with two students from Atlanta University, the first person I drove from the airport was Ralph Bunche who was representing the United Nations at the King funeral. Dr. Bunche was the first black Nobel Peace Prize recipient and, in 1968, he was an Undersecretary of the United Nations. The City of Atlanta had sent its Vice Mayor, Sam Massell, to accompany Dr. Bunche, but he insisted on coming with us SNCC folks instead.  (Ralph Bunch pictured on the right) The next person I picked up at the airport was Allard Lowenstein, an attorney in the movement, along with one of his colleagues, David Sweeney. Lowenstien first wanted to pay his respects to Mrs. King. So, I drove them to her house that was surrounded by a countless number of people. (Note: On March 14, 1980, Lowenstein was shot in his Manhattan office by Sweeney, who was mentally ill and believed that Lowenstein was plotting against him. Sweeney then calmly waited for the police to arrive.(Wikipedia)) (Allard Lowenstein pictured on the right.) Seeing Harry Belafonte and Sammy Davis, Jr. While I waited outside Mrs. King’s house for Lowenstein and Sweeney, along with the throngs of people, I saw Harry Belafonte walk out of Mrs. King's house with Sammy Davis, Jr. This was the first time I was fortunate to see them both in person. Below please see the 1965 photo of Dr. King along with Belafonte and Davis, Jr. in New York. Harry Belafonte with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sammy Davis Jr., at the Times Square benefit show "Broadway Answers Selma!", on April 4, 1965. Everett/Shutterstock Involvement with Harry Belafonte in the early 2000's Regarding meeting with and knowing Harry Belafonte years later, I need to start with information about my professional career, which has primarily been working on behalf of Black farmers. This began in the early 1990's, when I was fortunate to serve as the Director of Communications for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation/LAF) for close to 25 years.  The Federation/LAF, licensed in 16 southern states, is the primary organization in the United States that works on behalf of Black farmers. Its headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia and the Federation's Training Center is in Epes, Alabama (see photo below). Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Training Center (Photo: Heather Gray) More Background of Getting to know Harry Belafonte and his Involvement with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Prior to working for the Federation/LAF, however, and living in Atlanta, Georgia with my son Scott, I was involved in organizing work and movements for social justice across the United States and internationally. In the 1980's, my son was attending Inman Middle School, in the Virginia Highland area of Atlanta, Georgia, which was close to where we lived. He would occasionally bring friends home after school. One of his friends and classmates was Caleb Cooks. One day, when Caleb and Scott were on our front porch, I looked at one of the books Caleb had with him. I noticed, when opening it, that there was a note on the second page that included a signature from Harry Belafonte. I asked Caleb about this and he said, "Harry Belafonte is my uncle". I learned then that Caleb's father was Stoney Cooks, who had married Harry Belafonte's sister, Shirley (Belafonte) Cooks. As you can imagine, we then had a discussion about his uncle Harry Belafonte and about his family overall. Caleb's mother, at the time, was working for the Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young administration. Stoney Cooks, front, and Shirley (Belafonte) Cooks, both veterans of the early civil rights movement, (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) Close to 20 years later, when I was working as the Communications Director at the Federation/LAF, the executive director, Ralph Paige, was seeking a well known person to participate in one of the Federation/LAF's major events. I mentioned to him that we could perhaps see if Harry Belafonte could attend the event. Ralph Paige agreed to me contacting Belafonte. So, my first move was to contact my son Scott's friend Caleb Cooks, who I had maintained contact with over the years. I called Caleb and he said, "Don't worry Heather, I will contact my uncle," and the rest is history as they say. Belafonte agreed to attend the Federation/LAF event in the early 2000's and he continued to stay involved with the Federation/LAF over the years, which clearly indicated his understanding of the importance of assisting and supporting the Black farmer community. He would often come to events at the Federation/LAF's Training Center in Alabama. Below are some of the photos of his involvement. Those of us working at the Federation/LAF were so appreciative of his engagement and interest in assisting Black farmers. Needless to say, we in the world have been blessed that the renowned Harry Belafonte was involved consistently in the movement for justice all over the world. He made a significant impact on the freedom and justice movements in countless ways. Thank you Harry Belafonte!!! ____ Below are photos of some programs Harry Belafonte participated in at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund's events in Alabama in the early 2000's Harry Belafonte speaking at the Federation/LAF Training Center in 2006. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2004, Harry Belafonte, Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) and Jerry Pennick (Director of the Land Assistance Find) at a Federation/LAF event in Alabama. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2003, Harry Belafonte along with Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) and his wife at a Federation/LAF event in Alabama. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2004, Harry Belafonte along with Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) at a Federation/LAF event. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2004, Harry Belafonte along with Charles Sherrod, Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) and others at a Federation/LAF event. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2004, Harry Belafonte along with Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) and others at a Federation/LAF event. (Photo: Heather Gray) In 2003, Harry Belafonte along with Ralph Paige (Federation/LAF Executive Director) and others at a Federation/LAF event. (Photo: Heather Gray) ###

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