R I P Harry Belafonte

Discussion in 'Taylor's Tittle-Tattle - General Banter' started by Clive_ofthe_Kremlin, Apr 26, 2023.

  1. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    Cuba loses a great friend with the death of Harry Belafonte

    With the death today at the age of 96 of the renowned American actor and musician Harry Belafonte, Cuba loses a great friend, always willing to save the ties of friendship between the peoples of both nations.

    Despite the hostility that has characterized the policies of the different administrations of the United States in the last six decades, the award-winning artist was one of the forerunners of the bridges of solidarity with the Caribbean island and the strengthening of ties between its intellectuals.

    On July 23, 2020, he was awarded the Friendship Medal, awarded by the Cuban State, which served to recognize the many moments of his long and prolific life in which he shared luck, convictions, and destiny with the Cuban people.

    On that occasion, the then Cuban ambassador to the United States, José Ramón Cabañas, said: "This distinction constitutes recognition of his trajectory of solidarity with Cuba and his respect and admiration for the Cuban revolutionary process."

    Born on March 1, 1927, in New York City, the social activist is also considered a source of inspiration for many artists and fighters for justice in his country.
    Belafonte traveled to Cuba both as an artist in his youth, before the revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959, and later, starting in 1979, the latter visits in which he met more than once with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, with whom he had a very close relationship for several years.

    A sign of his support for Cuba were his words at the start of the rally at the Church of Reconciliation, New York, on September 27, 2003, when he called for the release of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters subjected to long sentences in the United States. That day he stated: “What is happening with our policy against Cuba is not the American style, it is not the true voice of the American people, it is not the true voice of those of us who deeply, deeply believe in the rights of all peoples, and the freedom of all people and in democracy”, he expressed.

    And later he said: "(...) There is a lot about the Cuban government, the Cuban people and what they have achieved, that many of us here are still trying to achieve."

    Regarding his support for Cuba, Martin Luther King Jr.'s fighting partner said: "I don't see it as a supreme effort, it's a way of life: if you believe in freedom, if you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy , if you believe in the rights of people, if you believe in the harmony of all humanity”.


    RIP Harry. A truly great man.
     
  2. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    I was just drying off from a cooling shower when the phone rang. "Señor Belafonte?"

    "Yes."

    "You are in your room."

    "Yes."

    "Not in the lobby."

    "No."

    "Where is your wife?"

    "In the lobby."

    "Is there anyone else in your room?"

    "No."

    I'm not sure how I understood this exchange, because I spoke no Spanish.

    "Stay where you are, Señor Belafonte."

    About three seconds later came a knock on the door. I opened it to see an incredibly handsome young Cuban in military mufti—not rugged jungle but beautifully tailored: revolutionary haute couture.

    I, on the other hand, was wearing Jockey shorts—and nothing else. I saw, past his shoulder, that the room across the hallway was open and occupied by four or five other military men in mufti, all with sidearms and a couple of AK-47's. My eye went immediately to the one in the full black beard, who strode over to take my hand in his. "Welcome to Cuba, Señor Belafonte," exclaimed Fidel Castro, with a grin at my Jockey shorts. He was as tall as I was—six feet two—which I hadn't expected, with proud, flashing eyes and a broad grin. "You have made the Cuban people so happy!"

    I put my pants on at that point, and one of the men went down to bring Julie up. With a beautiful female translator named Juanita at his side, Fidel thanked me for coming and said how much a fan he was of my music. As soon as Julie appeared, I could see he'd just become even more of a fan of hers. We talked in the hotel room for hours, then followed the entourage downstairs to the motorcade waiting outside. Off we sped to the Museum of the Revolution, with its amazing glassed-in atrium of full-grown indigenous trees and plants. The dining room to which we were shown was very grand, the hors d'oeuvres delicious, the dinner superb. As for the cigars—well, that went without saying. Later, when friends asked me if our day with Castro had worn us out, I told them the truth: absolutely not. Castro was so compelling, in both his physical presence and his intellectual passion, that Julie and I were genuinely sorry to say good-bye.


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  3. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    He was good but if you want to hear calypso as it should be, listen to Lance Percival
     
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  4. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    It’s the same with the entire history of soul music and Mick Hucknall.
     
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  5. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    For me, Lord Kitchener is the undisputed king of calypso...


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  6. Keighley

    Keighley First Team


     
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  7. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

  8. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

  9. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Now, that's what I call music
     
  10. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

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