Harry Belafonte is not here for Bey & JayZ

[summer]

I skimmed the comments and think I agree with whoever wrote that part of Bey's appeal is that she "stays in her lane". She is super talented and very savvy in some ways, but I don't trust her like that to go speaking for the race. My face still scrunches up when I listen to her talk sometimes.

That said...

www.crunktastical.net/2012/08/09/quick-quotes-harry-belafonte-beyonce-jayz/



Fuck your feelings, Harry Belafonte is bombing first. The legendary singer and social activist has condemned music power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z for ‘turning their back on social responsibility’ in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

When asked if he was happy with the image of minorities in Hollywood today, the 85-year-old replied: “Not at all. They have not told the history of our people, nothing of who we are. We are still looking.”

“We are not determinated. We are not driven by some technology that says you can kill Afghans, the Iraqis or the Spanish. It is all — excuse my French — shit. 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,” he continued. “But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.”

[dylanite]

Aww, now I wanna hear some Bruce!

[thejackpot]

I think it is difficult for someone of Belafonte's dynamic history of social activism and political awareness to not feel a bit disappointed when people don't use all of their available resources to better their people. I mean he really laid it on the line. Bill Cosby seems to feel similar disappointment. I think it is a tall expectation to have to stand up to and when the stakes don't seem to be as high as they were in the past it is easier for AA to not feel the need to be involved in that way, kwim.

I may pass on Beyonce but Jay Z could really bring an awareness to whatever he choose to support.

[sweetday]

Aug 10, 2012 7:18:09 GMT -5 thejackpot said:

I think it is difficult for someone of Belafonte's dynamic history of social activism and political awareness to not feel a bit disappointed when people don't use all of their available resources to better their people. I mean he really laid it on the line. Bill Cosby seems to feel similar disappointment. I think it is a tall expectation to have to stand up to and when the stakes don't seem to be as high as they were in the past it is easier for AA to not feel the need to be involved in that way, kwim.

I may pass on Beyonce but Jay Z could really bring an awareness to whatever he choose to support.

I agree with all of this.

[cookiemdough]

I think this would be hard for entertainers like Jay-Z to take on. I do think he is a savvy business person and seems responsible in his personal life, but anyone stepping into that role will undoubtedly be scrutinized and I all I can see coming from it is "omg have you heard the lyrics to this song...he said the n word!! why should the youth listen to him."

It would just be a distraction.

To be honest I am more bothered by the pastors in black churches going down to Washington to protest gaymarriage instead of using their power to impact the issues in the community.