HARRY BELAFONTE
Country: Jamaica and Martinique
Claim to Fame: Award-winning Actor, Singer and Humanitarian
An actor and “King of Calypso,” Harry Belafonte ranked among the most seminal performers of the post-war era. He is one of the most successful African-American pop stars in history. Belafonte also starred in classic films such as Carmen Jones, alongside Dorothy Dandridge. He was also a key activist in the Civil Rights Movement.
A lifelong humanitarian, he was the first recipient of the Nelson Mandela Courage Award and was honored at the White House with the 1994 National Medal of Arts for his contributions to U.S. cultural life. He has also received honorary degrees from schools including City University of New York, Spelman College, Tufts University and Columbia University.