Harry Belafonte Quotes

United States, Singer
March 1, 1927

Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and social activist. One of the most successful Jamaican-American pop stars in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style (originating in Trinidad & Tobago) with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) is the first million-selling LP by a single artist. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing "The Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O".

Also known as Actor, Peace Activist, Songwriter

Fascism is fascism. Terrorism is terrorism. Oppression is oppression.

Harry Belafonte
- Terrorism
- Oppression
You can cage the singer but not the song.

Harry Belafonte
- Song
- You
- Singer

This generosity that has been offered to the United States says very much about the Venezuelan spirit.

Harry Belafonte
- Spirit
- Generosity
- United
Bring it on. Dissent is central to any democracy.

Harry Belafonte
- Democracy
- Bring
- Central
I think Bush has a very selfish, arrogant point of view. I think he is interested in power, I think he believes his truth is the only truth, and that he will do what he wants to do despite the people.

Harry Belafonte
- People
- Power
- Truth
Our foreign policy has made a wreck of this planet. I'm always in Africa... And when I go to these places I see American policy written on the walls of oppression everywhere.

Harry Belafonte
You can be arrested and not charged. You can be arrested and have no right to counsel.

Harry Belafonte
- You
- Right
- Counsel
If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all humankind - then you have no choice but to back Fidel Castro as long as it takes!

Harry Belafonte
- People
- Believe
- Long

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.'

Harry Belafonte
- Life
- World
- Live
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 to this true art form.

Harry Belafonte
- Good
- Music
- Men
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 be.

Harry Belafonte
- Life
- Art
- Career
I've always been supportive of the right of Israel as a state, and I've always fought against anti-Semitism, even in my own community.

Harry Belafonte
- Community
- Always
- Israel
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 is be truthful and have a vision for what to do and stop playing a goddamn game of politics. If he does that, he'll get everything he needs.

Harry Belafonte
- Game
- Stop
- Passion
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.

Harry Belafonte

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

Harry Belafonte
- Truth
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.

Harry Belafonte
- Up
- Warrior
- Addiction