Search the Archive

"Each and every one of you has the power, the will and the capacity to make a difference in the world in which you live in. … You should go through life knowing, "I am somebody."

"To reach someone's soul, you have to have a social relationship. … You can't just sit down in the cold world of legal jargon and settle the nuances of racism and what it does to the social and cultura…"

"The Bigotry of Belafonte" by Andrew Sullivan, at Salon.com"

"I don’t think that we are a species or a people that can exist without making mistakes somewhere along the line. Some make mistakes that are greater than others. But I do believe that we should have t…"

"I think most important is that we have words that attempt to give us moral cleansing, so that somehow we hold those responsible for crashing into the Twin Towers and killing over 2,000 Americans citiz…"

"My social and political interests are part of my career. I cannot separate them. My songs reflect the human condition. The role of art isn't just to show life as it is, but to show life as it should b…"

"I could have made $2bn or $3bn — and ended up with some very cruel addiction — but I chose to be a civil rights warrior instead."

"Belafonte and Nat King Cole sing "Mama Look at Bubu"

"When I was 40 and looking at 60, it seemed like a thousand miles away. But 62 feels like a week and a half away from 80. I must now get on with those things I always talked about doing but put off."

"Even with all the difficulties and the frustrations that we feel—those of us who have been consistent in this journey—what makes it so remarkably attractive and encouraging are the men and women you m…"

"I have very little regard for consensus if it blinds you to the truth."

"Acceptance speech 2004 Global Exchange Human Rights Award"

"The Man Behind Belafonte's Music – Irving Burgie" by Ronald David Jackson"

"In the face of all the inhumanity, their humanity feeds the capacity to endure and continue to pursue honorable solutions to our pain."

"Discography at SonyBMG Masterworks"

"Harry Belafonte – a site of sites"

"Ubben Lecture at DePauw University"

"I work for the United Nations. I go to places where enormous upheaval and pain and anguish exist. And a lot of it exists based upon American policy. Whom we support, whom we support as heads of state,…"

"The sham engineers of the music industry, who steer the wheels of public opinion, are driving the good features of calypso into the ground. I shudder to think what these greedy men will eventually do …"

"There's a place for him, but he's the final determinant as to whether he achieves that or not. He needs to capture the imagination of a universe hungry for decent thought and passion. All he has to do…"

"Democracy Now! interview by Amy Goodman"