Harry Belafonte is having a 94th birthday celebration that will happen during a live-streamed event. The Gathering For Harry is presented by The Gathering For Justice and the proceeds will benefit the organization. The virtual surprise party will have performances and appearances from Common, Jay-Z, Tiffany Haddish, Susan Sarandon, Usher, Charlemagne Tha God, Chuck D, Aloe Blacc, Stacey Abrams, Bernie and Jane Sanders, Jackie Cruz, Tamika D. Mallory and Rev. Al Sharpton. Belafonte founded The Gathering For Justice after reading about a 5-year-old girl being handcuffed for being “unruly” in school. The organization’s mission is to end racial inequality in the justice system and child incarceration.Â
Harry Belafonte was a confidante to Martin Luther King. Jr. and he also worked tirelessly to end apartheid in South Africa and for the release of his friend Nelson Mandela. He financed the 1961 Freedom Rides, bailed Dr. King out of jail during the Birmingham Campaign and raised money to free other civil rights protestors.Â
Belafonte’s 1956 album Calypso was the first album in history to sell over one million copies and it introduced Americans to calypso music. He was called the King Of Calypso and he is one of the rare few people to reach EGOT status by having an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.Â
The Gathering For Harry will take place on February 28, 2021 at 7:00 PM ET. Belafonte’s birthday is March 1st. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
