Becoming Belafonte

September 15, 2014
Born to poor Jamaican immigrants, Belafonte grew up between Depression-era Harlem and Jamaica, learning to skillfully navigate the crosscurrents of culture, race, and class. That social-navigation talent and his own many artistic talents led him to become one of the premiere figures in black culture, fighting early on for artistic control of his work in television and film. He demanded stronger and richer representations of black culture and images. Smith traces Belafonte's early involvement in left-wing theater, which drew him into acting through his career as a popular calypso singer, matinee idol, and television and film star. All along, Belafonte carefully navigated the social landscape of the Red Scare that threatened the careers of any who stood up against McCarthy-era hysterics and later the particular demands of black nationalism that challenged the racially and culturally broader life Belafonte had carved for himself. Belafonte's artistic and activist careers had him crossing paths with prominent figures, including Paul Robeson, Ed Sullivan, John Kennedy, Stokely Carmichael, and Martin Luther King Jr. Photographs enhance this engaging look at a major figure in American cultural history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)