Sing Your Song, a documentary about the life of singer, performer and activist Harry Belafonte, was shown on Thursday, March 17 at the Paramount Theatre during the SXSW 2011 Film Festival. On hand for the screening was Shari, Belafonte’s daughter and the film’s producer.
The movie chronicles Belafonte’s ongoing commitment to social justice issues including his involvement with the Civil Rights movement, efforts to free South Africa, work against political turmoil in Haiti and famine in Ethiopia and the current youth incarceration issue. The movie showcases what an amazing force against injustice he has been over his 84 years.
A quote from Miriam Makeba in the compelling documentary sums it up best: “He took our struggles and made them his own.”
Sing Your Song reads as a primer about the fight for humanity over the past 50 years. When asked why her father has never won a Nobel Peace Prize, Shari smiled slightly and stated that her father “is a humble man and has never launched a campaign for the award, but, if nominated, he would be honored.” — lauren mccadney
