By Khulile Thwala
Oprah Winfrey, American President Joe Biden, and retired footballer Colin Kaepernick were among those who took to social media to pay tribute to Harry Belafonte following the news that he had died at the age of 96.
The singer and actor died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home on the Upper West Side. Belafonte released over 30 albums during his career, earned a Grammy lifetime achievement award and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and became a rare non-white leading man and sex symbol in Hollywood.
Read More: Remembering the great life of Harry Belafonte
He was also a significant member of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. In an Instagram post, Oprah spoke on his legacy, sharing that “another great tree” had fallen. “Harry Belafonte, a trailblazer, and hero to us all. Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice — especially risking your life back in the day to get money for the movement,” she said.
Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to lift others up. He lived a good life – transforming the arts while also standing up for civil rights. And he did it all with his signature smile and style. Michelle and I send our love to his wife, kids, and… pic.twitter.com/g77XCr9U5b
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 25, 2023
“Your being here on earth has blessed us all.” President Biden also paid tribute to Belafonte’s legacy on Tuesday, with the White House sharing a statement from the US leader, who called the singer, activist, and actor “a groundbreaking American who used his talent, his fame, and his voice to
help redeem the soul of our nation.”
“Harry Belafonte was born to Caribbean parents in Harlem, New York on March 1, 1927, when segregation was the order of American society. To our nation’s benefit, Harry never accepted those false narratives and unjust boundaries.
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He dedicated his entire life to breaking barriers and bridging divides,” the statement continued.
One of the greatest honors and joys of my life. What a man. What a loss. #HarryBelafonte pic.twitter.com/6tJESbtrT5
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 25, 2023
“Harry Belafonte’s accomplishments are legendary and his legacy of outspoken advocacy, compassion, and respect for human dignity will endure. He will be remembered as a great American,” stated the American President.
On Twitter, producer and former footballer Colin Kaepernick thanked Belafonte not only for his years of mentorship and guidance but for “a lifetime of activism fighting for a better future for all of us. You will be missed by many, but your memory and impact live on.”
