Harry Belafonte Interview: A Friendship with MLK That Shaped History
Harry Belafonte, the barrier-breaking actor, singer, and civil rights activist, reflects on his friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. and how it transformed his worldview. In this profoundly heartfelt interview, Belafonte shares stories about King’s final days before his assassination, their shared commitment to nonviolence, and the struggle for racial equity in America. He discusses the historic moment when he interviewed King for Johnny Carson’s ‘The Tonight Show’ in 1968, just months before King’s assassination, making it King’s final televised interview. Belafonte also shares his personal experiences with segregation, the challenges he faced in a racially divided America, and his unwavering dedication to social justice. From their first meeting to King’s tragic death, Belafonte provides a deeply unique perspective on one of the leading figures behind the Civil Rights Movement. This video is a must-watch for anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, or Harry Belafonte’s life and activism.
Harry Belafonte is an internationally known American singer, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist. Early in his career, Belafonte was a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and was one of Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidants and financial supporters. From 1968 until today, Belafonte’s activism would extend beyond domestic concerns including causes such as famine relief in Africa (he was an organizer of the recording sessions for “We Are the World,” in 1985), H.I.V./AIDS prevention and treatment, the abolition of nuclear weapons, education, and the end of apartheid. He has been a recipient of many esteemed awards including the first black performer to receive an Emmy, the first recording artist to sell over a million copies of a single album, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Belafonte died April 2023 in New York City at age 96.
From the HBO / Kunhardt Film Foundation (KFF) Documentary “King in the Wilderness” that follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the last years of his life: from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in 1968, through personal stories of the people who were around him.
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Chapter Markers:
00:00:38 - Meeting Dr. King
00:02:42 - First impressions of Dr. King
00:06:13 - Working with Dr. King
00:07:51 - Racial segregation
00:10:51 - Dr. King’s sense of humor
00:12:13 - Hosting The Tonight Show, 1968
00:17:39 - Personal relationships
00:20:04 - Dr. King’s assassination, 1968
00:22:34 - Last visit with Dr. King
00:25:45 - Commitment to nonviolence
Harry Belafonte, Friend and Activist
Interviewed By: Taylor Branch
Interview Date: April 10, 2017
© Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
#HarryBelafonteInterview #MLK #kunhardtfilmfoundation
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