Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte was a prominent musician, actor, and African American celebrity. He was born in Harlem in New York City to Caribbean parents. He dropped out of high school at age 17 and joined the U.S. Navy. Belafonte's first debut role was in 1953 with "Bright Road" and he would go on to appear in many other films into the 1990s. Musically his first album to gain popularity was the album "Calypso" in 1957. Belafonte was also the first African American man to win an Emmy award with his show "Tonight with Belafonte." He was also a social activist participating in the civil rights movement and had a very close relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was known for being an activist against racism and oppression around the world.