Early Life and Education of Harry Belafonte: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Harry Belafonte. A timeline of key moments.
Harry Belafonte was a prominent American singer, actor, and civil rights activist. He is best known for popularizing calypso music internationally during the 1950s and 1960s. His album *Calypso* (1956) achieved groundbreaking success as the first LP by a single artist to sell over a million copies. Belafonte leveraged his platform to advocate for civil rights, making him a significant figure in both the entertainment industry and social justice movements.
1900: Birth of Harry Belafonte Sr.
In 1900, Harold George Bellanfanti Sr., Harry Belafonte's father, was born.
1906: Birth of Melvine Love
In 1906, Melvine Love, Harry Belafonte's mother, was born.
March 1, 1927: Harry Belafonte Born
On March 1, 1927, Harold George Bellanfanti Jr., later known as Harry Belafonte, was born in Harlem, New York.
1928: Birth of Julie Robinson
Harry Belafonte's second wife Julie Robinson was born in 1928.
1932: Move to Jamaica
In 1932, Harry Belafonte moved to Jamaica to live with one of his grandmothers.
1940: Return to New York City
In 1940, Harry Belafonte returned to New York City from Jamaica.
1948: Marriage to Marguerite Byrd
In 1948, Harry Belafonte married Marguerite Byrd.
1953: Moved to East Elmhurst, Queens
In 1953, Belafonte moved from Washington Heights, Manhattan, into a white neighborhood in East Elmhurst, Queens.
1954: Refused to Perform in the American South
From 1954, Belafonte refused to perform in the American South in protest against racial prejudice.
1956: Performed Banana Boat Song
Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" from 1956 was performed at his 93rd birthday celebration in 2020.
March 8, 1957: Marriage to Julie Robinson
On March 8, 1957, Harry Belafonte married Julie Robinson.
1957: Separation from Marguerite Byrd
In 1957, Harry Belafonte and Marguerite Byrd separated when Byrd was pregnant with Shari.
1958: Bought an Apartment Building
In Fall 1958, Belafonte bought the apartment building where he was refused to live and turned it into a co-op.
1959: Supported the African American Students Foundation
In 1959, Belafonte was a supporter of the African American Students Foundation, which gave a grant to Barack Obama Sr. to study at the University of Hawaii.
June 1960: Kennedy and King met
After much convincing from Belafonte, Kennedy and King would later meet in June 1960–the two men negotiated a deal that if Nixon became the nominee for the Republican party, Belafonte would support Kennedy's presidential pursuits.
1960: Appeared in Campaign Commercial for Kennedy
In 1960, Belafonte appeared in a campaign commercial for Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy and performed at Kennedy's inaugural ball.
1960: Kennedy Picked Belafonte to fill endorsement position
In the 1960 election, Belafonte was Kennedy's pick to fill the endorsement position after his win as the first Black man to receive an Emmy Award for his work on Tonight with Belafonte
1961: Ended Performance Boycott of the American South
In 1961, Belafonte ended his boycott of performing in the American South, which had started in 1954, as a protest against racial prejudice.
May 24, 1963: Attended Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting
On May 24, 1963, Belafonte met with fifteen others, including Robert Kennedy and James Baldwin, in Kennedy's Central Park South apartment for the Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting.
1964: Supported Lyndon B. Johnson for President
After Kennedy's assassination, Belafonte supported Lyndon B. Johnson for the 1964 United States presidential election.
June 3, 1966: Belnem Construction Begins
On June 3, 1966, construction began on Belnem, a luxurious private community on Bonaire, created as a joint venture between Belafonte and Maurice Neme.
1979: Joined Royal Winnipeg Ballet Board
In 1979, Harry Belafonte served on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors.
December 1984: Created "We Are the World"
In December 1984, Harry Belafonte created the American benefit single for African famine relief, "We Are the World", with various artists.
1987: Master of Ceremonies at Reception for Oliver Tambo
In 1987, Belafonte served as the master of ceremonies at a reception honoring Oliver Tambo, the president of the African National Congress, at Roosevelt House, Hunter College, in New York City.
1989: End of Royal Winnipeg Ballet Board Service
In 1989, Harry Belafonte's service on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors came to an end.
May 1990: Performed at Jim Henson's Memorial Service
In May 1990, Harry Belafonte performed "Turn the World Around" at Jim Henson's memorial service.
1994: Received National Medal of Arts
In 1994, Harry Belafonte received the National Medal of Arts.
1996: Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Belafonte had been involved in prostate cancer advocacy since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated for the disease.
October 1998: Contributed to Letter to My Grandchild
In October 1998, Belafonte contributed a letter to Liv Ullmann's book Letter to My Grandchild.
1999: Meeting with Cuban Rap Community and Fidel Castro
In 1999, Harry Belafonte met with representatives of the Cuban rap community before meeting with Fidel Castro. This meeting resulted in Castro's approval and the Cuban government's incorporation of rap into Cuban culture.
September 11, 2001: Today Show Interview
On September 11, 2001, Harry Belafonte appeared on the Today Show to promote "The Long Road to Freedom" album, interviewed just before the first plane hit the World Trade Center.
October 10, 2002: Belafonte refers to Malcolm X
On October 10, 2002, Belafonte, during an interview with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, referred to Malcolm X.
2003: Belafonte reflects on meeting with Fidel Castro
In a 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected upon his 1999 meeting's influence on hip-hop's place in Cuban society.
2004: Belafonte suffered a stroke
In 2004, Belafonte suffered a stroke that affected his inner-ear balance.
2004: Divorce from Julie Robinson
In 2004, Harry Belafonte and Julie Robinson divorced after 47 years of marriage.
2005: Chávez initiates heating oil program
In 2005, Hugo Chávez initiated a program to provide cheaper heating oil for poor people in the United States, which Belafonte supported.
January 2006: Remarks at Arts Presenters Members Conference and Duke University
In January 2006, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo of Homeland Security" at the Arts Presenters Members Conference. Also in January 2006, during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech at Duke University, he stated that if he could choose his epitaph, it would read "Harry Belafonte, Patriot."
2006: Remarks on US Government at Duke University
During a Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech at Duke University in 2006, Belafonte compared the American government to the hijackers of the September 11 attacks.
2006: Meeting with Hugo Chávez and Controversy
In January 2006, Belafonte met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and stated that "millions of the American people support your revolution", which ignited a great deal of controversy. Hillary Clinton and AARP publicly distanced themselves from his comments.
2007: Retired from Performing
In 2007, Harry Belafonte stated in an interview that he had retired from performing.
April 2008: Marriage to Pamela Frank
In April 2008, Harry Belafonte married Pamela Frank.
2011: Commented on the Obama Administration
In 2011, Belafonte commented on the Obama administration and the role that popular opinion played in shaping its policies.
December 9, 2012: Expressed Dismay Over Opposition to Obama's Policies
On December 9, 2012, Belafonte expressed dismay that many political leaders in the United States continued to oppose Obama's policies even after his reelection.
January 29, 2013: MLK Celebration Keynote Speaker
On January 29, 2013, Harry Belafonte was the keynote speaker and honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design, speaking on the role of artists as activists.
January 11, 2014: Inducted into Phi Beta Sigma
On January 11, 2014, Harry Belafonte was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
March 2014: Honorary Doctorate from Berklee
In March 2014, Harry Belafonte was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
November 2014: Attended Revolution and Religion Dialogue
In November 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution and Religion,” a dialogue between Bob Avakian and Cornel West at Riverside Church in New York City.
2014: Received Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
In 2014, Belafonte received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 6th Annual Governors Awards.
2016: Endorsed Bernie Sanders in Democratic Primaries
In 2016, Belafonte endorsed Vermont U.S. senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries.
January 21, 2017: Honorary Co-chairman of the Women's March on Washington
On January 21, 2017, Belafonte was an honorary cochairman of the Women's March on Washington.
March 1, 2020: Celebrated 93rd Birthday at Apollo Theater
On March 1, 2020, Harry Belafonte celebrated his 93rd birthday at Harlem's Apollo Theater in a tribute event.
2022: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Harry Belafonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category.
April 25, 2023: Harry Belafonte Death
On April 25, 2023, Harry Belafonte passed away.
2024: Death of Julie Robinson
Harry Belafonte's second wife Julie Robinson died in 2024.
