April 24th, 2024

Harry Belafonte, though primarily known for his musical achievements, also had a notable career in film.  Belafonte made his film debut in 1953 with  "Bright Road," playing a school principal.  The following year, he had a starring role (though he did not sing) in the musical "Carmen Jones."  This film was a big success and led to more prominent roles for Belafonte.  In 1957, he co-starred with Dorothy Dandridge in "Island in the Sun," a film that explored themes of race relations in the Caribbean.  

Dissatisfied with the stereotypical roles often offered to Black actors at the time, Belafonte became more selective about his film projects in the 1960s. Mr. Belafonte's film career was not as extensive as his music career, but he did make a significant impact with the roles he chose. He helped to pave the way for greater opportunities for Black actors in Hollywood.

MUSIC COMPOSED BY: Edzer Angerville and Marcus Pinn