Harry Belafonte Says Hollywood 'Could be Civilization's Game Changer'

On Saturday night at the Governor's Awards, Harry Belafonte appealed to the Hollywood community to change the world.

In his acceptance speech for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, he said, "I really wish I could be around for the rest of the century to see what Hollywood does with the rest of the century," said Belafonte. "Maybe, just maybe, it could be civilization's game changer."

"Each and every one of you in this room, with your gifts, your power and your skills, can perhaps change the way in which our global humanity mistrusts itself," said Belafonte. "Perhaps we as artists and visionaries can influence citizens everywhere in the world to see the better side of what we are as a species."

In 2009 the Board of Governors voted to establish an annual event at which it will present its testimonial awards: the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Honorary Award. Honorees are selected and announced in September and presented their awards at a celebratory dinner event in November. They are also acknowledged at the next Academy Awards ceremony.

The Governors Awards were established in effort to balance the desire to truly honor worthy individuals and avoid the time limitations that the Oscar telecast imposes on these honors. The 2014 honorees were Harry Belafonte, Jean-Claude Carriere, Hayao Miyazaki, and Maureen O'Hara.

Source: USA Today

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