Harry Belafonte is not just one of the greatest entertainers of our
time; he has led one of the great American lives of the last
century. Now, this extraordinary icon tells us the story of that
life, giving us its full breadth, letting us share in the
struggles, the tragedies, and, most of all, the inspiring triumphs.
Belafonte grew up, poverty-ridden, in Harlem and Jamaica. His
mother was a complex woman--caring but withdrawn, eternally angry
and rarely satisfied. His father was distant and physically
abusive. It was not an easy life, but it instilled in young Harry
the hard-nosed toughness of the city and the resilient spirit of
the Caribbean lifestyle. It also gave him the drive to make good
and channel his anger into actions that were positive and
life-affirming. His journey led to the U.S. Navy during World War
II, where he encountered an onslaught of racism but also fell in
love with the woman he eventually married. After the war he moved
back to Harlem, where he drifted between odd jobs until he saw his
first stage play--and found the life he wanted to lead. Theater
opened up a whole new world, one that was artistic and political
and made him realize that not only did he have a need to express
himself, he had a lot to express.
He began as an actor--and has always thought of himself as
such--but was quickly spotted in a musical, began a tentative
nightclub career, and soon was on a meteoric rise to become one of
the world's most popular singers. Belafonte was never content to
simply be an entertainer, however. Even at enormous personal cost,
he could not shy away from activism. At first it was a question of
personal dignity: breaking down racial barriers that had never been
broken before, achieving an enduring popularity with both white and
black audiences. Then his activism broadened to a lifelong,
passionate involvement at the heart of the civil rights movement
and countless other political and social causes. The sections on
the rise of the civil rights movement are perhaps the most moving
in the book: his close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr.; his
role as a conduit between Dr. King and the Kennedys; his up-close
involvement with the demonstrations and awareness of the hatred and
potential violence around him; his devastation at Dr. King's death
and his continuing fight for what he believes is right.
But "My Song" is far more than the history of a movement. It is a
very personal look at the people in that movement and the world in
which Belafonte has long moved. He has befriended many beloved and
important figures in both entertainment and politics--Paul Robeson,
Eleanor Roosevelt, Sidney Poitier, John F. Kennedy, Marlon Brando,
Robert Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Tony Bennett, Bill
Clinton--and writes about them with the same exceptional candor
with which he reveals himself on every page. This is a book that
pulls no punches, and turns both a loving and critical eye on our
country's cultural past.
As both an artist and an activist, Belafonte has touched countless
lives. With "My Song, " he has found yet another way to entertain
and inspire us. It is an electrifying memoir from a remarkable man.
"From the Hardcover edition."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
