Darryl Maximilian Robinson Salutes Harry Belafonte at The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project

He was both as fearless in his political views as he was passionate in his craft of performance. He defied authority and conventions not for his own glory, but to spread a message of equality and humanity that millions would come to understand.

Born in the 1920s on Manhattan Island in New York, yet raised on his parents' home Isle of Jamaica, Harry Belafonte would make a huge impact on both the world of politics, and art and enteratainment, in the most profound ways, all while proving to be a truly great artist and inspiring human being that all Americans can look to with admiration and pride.

YES, he would become the first African-American male actor to win A Tony Award on Broadway ever ( in 1953 for Best Featured or Supporting Actor In A Musical for his noted musical work in the 1952 revue "John Murray Anderson's Almanac" ).

Yes, he would become the first African-American male performer to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in 1960 for his 1959 television music special "Tonight With Harry Belafonte".

And yes, he would become with his 1956 Jamaican roots record "Calypso" the first music artist IN ANY GENRE to sell over A MILLION ALBUMS. Later, after scoring his first Grammy Award ( one of three ), he would become known as "The King of Calypso"!

He was a 1950s black male leading man in the movies ( especially opposite the late, great Best Actress Oscar Nominee Dorothy Dandridge in "Carmen Jones" ) that African-American moviegoers were delighted to see.

And like his gifted, lifelong friend and fellow actor Sir Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte's screen presence would leave a lasting impact.

BUT HARRY BELAFONTE WAS FAR MORE THAN AN ENTERTAINER!

He was a supporter of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's efforts to secure Civil Rights, economic opportunities, fair treatment and jobs for every citizen in this country. Harry Belafonte helped organize and raised funds for Dr. King's historic 1963 March On Washington and provided much needed financial assistance to The Freedom Riders in The Deep South.

He fought against hunger and famine around the world. He defied Apartheid in South Africa and aided in the efforts to free Nelson Mandela.

He refused to ever perform in U.S. southern states due to their racist practice of Jim Crow Laws. He outraged Presidential Administrations by arguing against the Embargo of Cuba and was willing to listen to Fidel Castro and Soviet diplomats in regards to Russian peace talks.

He produced theatre on Broadway and beyond that was socially important and culturally relevant to all peoples. In the 1980s, he would be named a Good Will Ambassador by The United Nations and, in 2018, Harry Belafonte would receive an Honorary Academy Award for his Humanitarian efforts around the world.

And along the way, Harry Belafonte would spend much of his own accumulated wealth to support causes he believed in because he saw the value, the need, the nessicity of HELPING HIS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AS A PERSONAL BLESSING FOR HIMSELF.

ON APRIL 25, 2023, at the age of 96, we lost the Truly Great Harry Belafonte. May every person who knew and loved his work and his efforts to MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE take a moment to remember what a great artist and truly fine human being he was.

R.I.P. "Day-o" Man.