Ouch: Harry Belafonte Says Beyonce and Jay-Z Have Turned Their Back On Social Responsibility

August 8th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: smartHotrichcrazy.com

When your elders speak, you shut up and listen. Eighty-five-year-old entertainment legend Harry Belafonte has certainly earned his right to call out the younger crowd in the industry and he definitely has a lot to say about the current state of affairs concerning black celebdom. The activist just received the Golden Leopard Honor Award at the Locarno Film Festival to receive the event’s Golden Leopard Honor Award, recognizing his contributions to political activism as an actor. And when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the honor, he didn’t miss the opportunity to call out other celebrities who he feels fail to do their part in society.

When Mr. Belafonte was asked if he’s happy with the image of minorities in Hollywood today, he said, “not at all.”

“They have not told the history of our people, nothing of who we are,” he said. “We are still looking. We are not determinate. We are not driven by some technology that says you can kill Afghans, the Iraqis or the Spanish. It is all – excuse my French – s**t. It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.

It’s interesting that Mr. Belafonte is being asked about this on the heels of similar discussions concerning Oprah’s contributions to the black community, and even President Obama’s. Jay-Z has been criticized quite frequently for not doing anything to build up the community, yet on the other hand the attitude as of late seems to be that these individuals have no social responsibility to give back to black people or society as a whole. Maybe Harry Belafonte is just old school, but he clearly has a different take on things, which he feels makes his latest honor all the more special.

“Such awards, coming from culture and societies where I do not linger, are a validation that there was a global receptivity to the fact that I have taken a stand against war, taken a stand against racism, sexism and so on, throughout the years,” he said. “While at home some people would want to crucify me because of my political position, I am also being honored for what I do, and that validation is extremely important.”

I wonder what he thinks about Bey and Jay’s push to get President Obama reelected?

What do you think about Harry Belafonte’s charge against Beyonce and Jay-Z and other minority entertainers?

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  • Sunf1ower_Jones

    Jay and Bey know who butters their bread. They know that if they anger white America, it will affect their bottom line: $$. Sometimes celebs, black or white, can be pimps to the system.

    Let me add, celebrities of any race, would not DARE speak out against homosexuality or gay marriage. They know that their necks would be severed. It’s all about the game.

  • proud african

    lol, to those of you who claim to not be african, like that is a shameful thing…please remember this, you might not be born in africa but you are africans all the same because that is where you hail from, where your roots are and the reason why your features are so inexplicably similar to that of west africans. calling yourself a black american is so foolish as it does nothing but point out the fact that your skin is black, it does not emphasise your actual country of origin or your cultural heritage as many other americans who have a need to advertise their background do such as irish-americans, italian-americans, indian-americans, etc. but then again you people don’t know where you came from, or when you do find out it is not worth mentioning. you spend so much time bringing each other down, there is no such thing as a black community, the self hatred is astonishing and embarrassingly broadcasted around the world that it makes anyone with dark skin embarrassed to be associated with your likes…pathetic, on second thought, don’t call yourselves africans, we don’t want you anyway

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  • http://twitter.com/brannon_smith Brannon Smith

    I’ve been saying this for years about Beyoncé music, in particular. As the single-most powerful Black musician today, she has a responsibility to deliver a socially conscious record at some point. Every other Black artist who’s been in her position has done so (Marvin Gaye-What’s Going On, Prince-Sign of the Times, Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation, etc). What powerful, thought-provoking statement has she made?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=671571496 China Maybell

    beyond that .. I think individuals have a right to decide who and what if anything they should support.. they also have a right to remain NEUTRAL. It is wonderful if people WANT to do something.. but to me . the fans are the ones who purchase the things that make the people rich.and it would be nice if the entertainers did little things to show their appreciation.. but let us not forget.. these entertainers are the ones with the talent and they deserve the pay they get for the work they do.. they have a right to do what ever they want with their money.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=671571496 China Maybell

    I noticed that Mr.Belafonte’ said nothing about the work Beyonce’ does for women in Texas I think it is. I read that she had a non profit organization that helps women get and keep housing.

  • bkabbagej

    I too find it very true that our so call Celebs don’t do much to support and up lift our younger generation. But before we can look at the present and if every celebs that’s “successful” is isn’t giving back we have to realize that the gains aquired by the struggle of civil rights fighting allowed them the opportunties they take for granted. Most of what Jay-Z, Bey and even Oprah have achieved were not allowed nor tolerated just 40-45 years ago and to know the wealth they’ve seen was unheard of. They would be considered not knowing their place, uppity Ni**ers with too much power and money and they would have found a way to bring them down but now with all this cumbya and intergration we have forgotten and that was then and they don’t hang us with ropes from trees anymore just incorrcerate (them).
    Yet not one of them has developed an internship or taken on a High School or community center and said for every one of you to graduate and get accepted to a college I’ll fund your education or give you a payed internship, especially coming from the communities they came from. Sure giving and supporting a non-profit or going somewhere (Africa) and building a school is great but there are children in Mississippi (where Oprah grew up), that could use a good school and new books, not Chicago, Mississippi, Tenessee and especially Baltimore, all places Oprah’s money and help could have gone a long way. We treat each other with more distain and disrespect than any white person could and no matter what we see outside ourselves we have to teach people how to treat us by how we treat each other!

  • Kay

    Lmfaoo I trolled this article so hard that over half the comments are responses to mine.

  • J

    I agree with this article on several points. Most importantly I think it shows the disconnect between generations regarding the Civil Rights era. A lot of younger people don’t know their history, the story of their grandparents or great-grand parents as it relates to past race relations in the U.S. If they did, they;d appreciate their elders more and have more respect for themselves. Honestly the attitude of Bey and J doesn’t surprise me at all, I feel the people within my generation just have a very ” Imma do me” and “get mines” attitude. There just isn’t a strong sense of community. They don’t feel an obligation to give back. I feel that if Jay-Z and Beyonce REALLY stood up and gave back to the black community, they would not be as famous. Through their music, and performance, they actually promote and perpetuate stereotypical images of black men and women. They are doing their job and getting paid handsomely for it.

  • Truth

    I’m so tired of the bs. It is NOT anyone’s responsiblity to give back. Charity is an option not a requirement. That being said both Beyonce and Jay-Z do give to charitable organizations. Charity shouldn’t be about who’s doing the most, but about helping those that need to be helped. I’m tired of black people telling me what I need or should be like as a black person, while I respect Mr. Belafonte, I could careless less of what you think if I were B or J.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ajakalilogan Aja Kali Laury

    I saw a documentary years back where Jay-z went to and Angola, where they have to walk miles to get running water. The students have to walk miles just to get buckets of drinking water. He was working to raise awareness through MTV and the United Nations. That doesn’t count? What about when he did a concert in Madison Square Garden and gave 100% of the profit to families of 9/11 victims? I don’t know the rest of his/their charitable contributions, but who knows how a person is truly giving back (it shouldn’t always be known anyway). I’ve definitely learned don’t ever make too much money- criticism comes with the territory no matter what.

  • CarlaKah

    Anyone that is very rich and famous has the opportunity to help the less fortunate. Once you are part of a minority that is as disadvantaged as black people, you must at least be a positive inspiration and (like Oprah said) put some people through college. It is however easy for an outsider to judge and decide what a celebrity should and shouldn’t do to deserve to be honored as such an inspiration. B and Jay have put in work to help their own families and their own people (by hiring them, buying them houses etc). Now they have reached a point where they could mean something for the “common folk”. I think it would be amazing if they would organize a way to pick 10 kids that get a scholarship or/and be Angel investors for young entrepreneurs. I truly believe they could make a huge difference by consistently doing stuff like that. I also feel like their push to get Obama re-elected is great, but not enough. I would love to see them take a clear political position where they support and promote equality and progress in our communities. I miss the type of celebrity that caused a shift in society and/or jump started a clear movement (Muhammed Ali). Yes we have our conscious rappers (like Mos Def) that speak the truth and will not sugarcoat our demise, but the most famous, richest and best payed black celebs should definitely do it too. I do not know if their PR advises them to stay away from controversial subjects or that they choose it themselves. I just clearly see them missing a huge opportunity to make drastic changes. This is the era of sensational, invasive media. Our youth breaths fame, glitz and glamour. Why not use these “superpowers” of good?

  • satch

    jay-z former crack dealer right? you know he does not care about po folks lol

  • http://dontloseyourdayjob.com/ Hassan Fvckry

    Let’s just say that Jay-Z’s hood still looks the same… even if he brought Oprah through it. Maybe he thinks he can get another him if he keeps the environment the same?

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