His Song: A Harry Belafonte Retrospective

“If I’ve impacted on one heart, one mind, one soul, and brought to that individual a greater truth than that individual came into a relationship with me having, then I would say that I have been successful.” — Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte was an actor, singer, activist, producer, and trailblazer. After his death this past April at the age of 96, he left behind a staggering legacy. This retrospective aims to shine a light on his brilliance as a performer on the silver screen, his influence during the Civil Rights Movement, and his push for greater autonomy for Black actors, directors, and producers as the founder of Belafonte Enterprises. Showcasing work ranging from his earliest roles of the 1950s such as Carmen Jones to his final performance in 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, the series will survey over half a century in the career of and pay tribute to a Black cultural icon who sought to bring forth those greater truths in every aspect of his artistry.

Here’s an NPR article outlining Harry Belafonte’s lifelong commitment to art and activism to supplement your film viewings!

This retrospective screens as part of JBFC Series REMIX: The Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art, which is presented with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts.