New York– Civil Rights activist, humanitarian, and entertainer Harry Belafonte, has passed away at the age of 96.
According to reports Belafonte died Tuesday in his New York home from congestive heart failure.
Belafonte was one of the first Black performers to sell a million records and to gain a large following on film.
He was most known for his song “Day-O! Daaaaay-O,” and won a Tony Award for his starring role in “Almanac” and an Emmy for the TV special “Tonight with Harry Belafonte.”
In the 1960’s, Belafonte scaled back his performances and took on more of a role as a celebrity activist during the Civil Rights movement.
Belafonte was known to participate in marches and benefit concerts and would also organize them.
He worked closely with his friend Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. both intervening on his behalf and helping him financially.
Belafonte lived by his hero Paul Robeson’s decree that artists are “gatekeepers of truth,” and criticized young Black celebrities, like Jay Z and Beyonce for failing to meet their “social responsibilities.”
He also mentored Usher, Danny Glover, and Common.