NEWS

Harry Belafonte: Make the U.S. 'ungovernable' for Donald Trump

Meghan Holden
mholden@jconline.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On the dawn of Donald Trump's presidency, a deeply concerned Harry Belafonte is looking to the American people to awaken and resist the incoming leader's agenda.

"No time has been more conflicting for me than this moment," the legendary singer, actor and activist said. "The ending of civilization is what's at stake."

In his first time speaking to the public before Trump's position becomes official, Belafonte on Tuesday evening addressed a large crowd at Purdue University's Loeb Playhouse. He was the keynote speaker of the university's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., themed "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Where Do We Go from Here?"

But as far as providing a concrete answer to that question in regards to the incoming Trump administration, he was at a loss. Belafonte said he wishes he could turn to Dr. King, who was a longtime friend of his, and ask, "Where the hell do we go now?"

Belafonte, singer of the hit "Day-O" and the first black performer to win an Emmy Award, has spent a large portion of his nearly 90 years as an outspoken social rights activist.

He and King forged a friendship during the Civil Rights Movement. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, referred to Belafonte as one of the couple's "truest friends" in her 1969 memoir, "My Life with Martin Luther King."

Throughout his career, Belafonte has continued to be an avid activist, contributing to the fight against famine in African countries, which included spurring the production of the 1985 single, "We Are the World." More recently, he's worked to combat gang violence.

Belafonte, who was a Bernie Sanders supporter in the primaries then later backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, was also vocal throughout the presidential campaign of his strong opposition to Trump. At a Democracy Now! event in December, he said, "In a few weeks from now, if there is a platform on which I will be privileged to stand and speak, my opening remarks will probably be something like "Welcome to the Fourth Reich."

Now, his suggestion is to make the country "ungovernable" for Trump.

"Just as the Republicans and the Tea Party made Barack Obama’s term ungovernable, I think we, citizens of the union, have the capacity and the responsibility to make sure that Trump’s philosophy and his view of life and fellow beings does not endure," Belafonte said in an interview before his speech. "And I will spend what time I have left on this good earth to make sure that I have contributed all that’s at my disposal to make him unworthy.”

Belafonte captivated the crowded theatre, who applauded his remarks on educating children about black history and creating meaningful art in this pivotal moment in America.

"I was overwhelmed by his presence," said Sandra Sydnor, of Lafayette. "We were just staying rooted in spot, not wanting to leave after he left because of his persona, because of his spirit."

Contact J&C higher education reporter Meghan Holden at mholden@jconline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MeghanHolden.

Harry Belafonte delivers the keynote address of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program Tuesday, January 17, 2017, in Loeb Playhouse on the campus of Purdue University.