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During my childhood in the 1970s, living in the inner-city of London in the neighborhood of Tottenham, there were a select few black American icons who made a significant impact on my life, bringing with them an abundance of color and vitality. As I reflect on these memories as an adult, I now realize that these figures also brought my parents to life. Suddenly, our small, local world expanded in these moments. Among these influential individuals were Sidney Poitier, the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, and the multi-talented Harry Belafonte.
When I first met Harry, he was singing the lyrics: “Daylight come and I want to go home” in his 1956 rendition of Day-O (The Banana Boat Song). We were listening to it on a vinyl record in our townhouse. I can still picture my parents, who were working tirelessly and facing financial struggles in London, moving around with a sense of ease. His music must have transported them back to their village in the Caribbean. It served as a soundtrack for the Windrush generation.
Meeting and spending time with him during his visit to the UK in 2012 to promote his autobiography, My Song, was a momentous occasion for me. I had the opportunity to interview him twice while he was here, once at the Hay festival and again at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham. It was truly awe-inspiring to witness Harry’s mastery of language, despite being in his 80s at the time. Being in his presence felt like being in the presence of legends such as Paul Robeson, Maya Angelou, and James Baldwin.
His story resonated with me because it shared similarities with my own experiences. His father was unreliable and not a great role model. His mother faced challenges as a woman and a Black person. He discussed how his father and uncles’ involvement in minor crimes affected his life, which reminded me of my own community in Tottenham during the 1970s. When Harry joined Tottenham, the neighborhood was still recovering from the destruction and chaos of the 2011 riots. He seemed to appreciate the urban audience and spoke about issues such as poverty, Harlem, race, and America, answering many questions on the topic.
In 2018, while watching Spike Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman with my 15-year-old son, I was reminded of Harry. My son was enthralled by the film and particularly by Harry Belafonte’s final performance. It brought me great happiness to see my teenager connect with someone who had impacted not only my life, but also my parents’. As my parents have passed away, there was a special significance to this triangular connection between us.
Upon learning of Harry’s passing, I played his music. I have his book on my office bookshelf and I took it out to read through it. I felt a profound sadness and reflected on my own parents. However, I couldn’t help but think about what an incredible life he had lived.
Source: theguardian.com
