He was an odd choice for sure to run such a complex organization with all that nitty gritty.
A long time ago I was nominated for an Emmy for editing a documentary and Harry Belafonte was the presenter for the award for editing that year. I so admired him and loved his music and his activism since I was a small child. His music filled our home. I didn't think I would be able to stand there next to him and receive an award and keep my composure. As it turns out I didn't win and in the moment I was so relieved because I thought I'd make a fool of myself. Now that I'm more mature I think it would have been nice to have a fleeting moment up close with this great human being.
I envy you. I'd always hoped somehow someday to meet him (for a year I lived on Riverside Drive but never saw him). The first albums I bought (in 6th or 7th grade) were _Belafonte_ and _Aida_. Next came _Calypso_ and I played "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" over and over. This was the late 50s. And over the years, as I learned of his activism for civil rights and Cuba and against apartheid, I liked him for new reasons. Now if you'd both been leading Bread and Roses and had a full-time fundraiser too, just imagine . . .
Really sad to hear that. My junior high school music teacher introduced me to him in 1957 when he devoted a whole music lesson to just playing his first LP, on which "Jamaica Farewell" appeared. I didn't know about the "Bread and Roses" connection, but he did use his popularity to promote civil rights. Spike Lee brilliantly used him just a few years ago as the "veteran civil rights leader" describing the movement's history to the young students in "BlacKkKlansman": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHm6l8dZyyU
You constantly surprise, amaze and delight.
He was an odd choice for sure to run such a complex organization with all that nitty gritty.
A long time ago I was nominated for an Emmy for editing a documentary and Harry Belafonte was the presenter for the award for editing that year. I so admired him and loved his music and his activism since I was a small child. His music filled our home. I didn't think I would be able to stand there next to him and receive an award and keep my composure. As it turns out I didn't win and in the moment I was so relieved because I thought I'd make a fool of myself. Now that I'm more mature I think it would have been nice to have a fleeting moment up close with this great human being.
he was as complicated as the rest of us (!!!!)
I’m sure of that 😉
I envy you. I'd always hoped somehow someday to meet him (for a year I lived on Riverside Drive but never saw him). The first albums I bought (in 6th or 7th grade) were _Belafonte_ and _Aida_. Next came _Calypso_ and I played "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" over and over. This was the late 50s. And over the years, as I learned of his activism for civil rights and Cuba and against apartheid, I liked him for new reasons. Now if you'd both been leading Bread and Roses and had a full-time fundraiser too, just imagine . . .
Only you could say that, Esther — in any conceivable way or language.
Really sad to hear that. My junior high school music teacher introduced me to him in 1957 when he devoted a whole music lesson to just playing his first LP, on which "Jamaica Farewell" appeared. I didn't know about the "Bread and Roses" connection, but he did use his popularity to promote civil rights. Spike Lee brilliantly used him just a few years ago as the "veteran civil rights leader" describing the movement's history to the young students in "BlacKkKlansman": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHm6l8dZyyU
Who can take his place?
I guess that his work, or his part of our work is finished. I hope he can rest peacefully now. Thanks to him for all he’s done.
Breakfast with Allen Ginsberg, dinner with Harry Belefonte - what other surprises do you have for us? Lunch with Lauren Bacall?
you know that Lauren Bacall was my Miss Rheingold friend Annie's husband Joe's first cousin? YES
No one could have replaced you in a real way. I sure do love his music tho. Say, Esther, do you play an instrument. :)
bad piano (!!!)