Harry Belafonte Talks Police Violence, Economic Inequality and More at Town Hall Meeting

By Qimmah Saafir May 15, 2015

According to the Root, the National Cares Mentoring Movement sponsored a telephone town hall meeting with entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte and about 1,000 community leaders and activists from around the country. 

Belafonte shared his perspective on Ferguson and Baltimore as well as the effect of poverty on countless communities of color. Susan L. Taylor—founder and CEO of National Cares and former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine—and asha bandele—poet, author, veteran activist and National Cares consultant—moderated the call. 

Taylor opened the discussion noting the killing of Freddie Gray as a “tipping point,” and spoke on Belafonte’s life of resilience.

Mr. B., you’ve been Grammy’d and Tony’d and Emmy’d and also Jim Crowed,” Taylor said. “Blacklisted by Hollywood, harassed by the House Committee on Un-American Activity, spied on by the FBI, threatened by the [Ku Klux] Klan, state troopers, the Las Vegas Mafia bosses and you’re still standing strongly. So, tonight, the question is for all of us … what do we do with our power and how do we do it?

Listen to the full audio above.