Belafonte Remark on Powell Starts Row

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 10/20/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 1:28 p.m. ET

In his famous, fervent speeches of the 1960s, Malcolm X described the difference between house slaves, who lived in comfortable conditions in the master's house and loved the master, and slaves laboring in the field, who hated the master.

The house slaves, he implied, were mainstream civil rights groups and leaders, who he thought were too closely aligned with whites.

Now it's a term being used by activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte to describe Secretary of State Colin Powell. And Belafonte, who opposes a war on Iraq, isn't apologizing.

Belafonte told The Associated Press he stands by his remarks likening Powell to a slave ``permitted to come into the house of the master,'' but that he meant them not as a personal attacks but as a condemnation of Bush administration policies.

He said National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice had also failed to meet his high expectations for fellow minorities.

``As a citizen, I feel it is my sacred duty to speak out when I see injustice, when I see our country going to places of folly,'' Belafonte told the AP in a phone interview last week.

``I'd like to see both (Powell) and Condoleezza Rice show some moral backbone, show some courage, show some commitment to principles that are far higher than those being espoused by their boss,'' he said.

His comments prompted a debate among segments of the black community, with some saying Belafonte's slave reference, made on a San Diego radio station Oct. 8, went too far, and that he should apologize to Powell.

But others point to Belafonte's record of humanitarian service -- raising money for African famine relief, as a longtime goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund and champion of civil rights -- and say his words hold some truth.

``The question is, should he have said it and should he have said it in the way he did? Therein lies a great deal of discussion and even criticism within the black community,'' said University of Maryland political scientist Ronald Walters. ``This is the kind of allegation that stings.''

Belafonte, 75, perhaps best-known as a singer for his ``Banana Boat Song,'' is also a humanitarian revered by many blacks ``as somebody who shoots straight and tells the unvarnished truth,'' Walters said.

In the radio interview, Belafonte said slaves were allowed the privilege of living in the house if they served their master.

``When Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture,'' Belafonte said.

In a separate ``Larry King Live'' interview, Powell said he didn't mind Belafonte attacking his politics, ``but to use a slave reference, I think, is unfortunate and is a throwback to another time and another place that I wish Harry had thought twice about using.''

James Cone, author of ``Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare,'' said Malcolm X criticized mainstream civil rights leaders and groups as ``the black leadership which was chosen by the dominant white society.''

``Now didn't the Bush administration choose Powell? So what's the difference?'' Cone said.

``It's not a nice thing to say, but the truth is often very provocative and hurtful,'' he added.

Project 21, a leadership network for conservative blacks, said Belafonte should apologize to Powell, who director David Almasi said ``of all people, is one of the most independent thinkers in the Bush Cabinet.''

The first black secretary of state, Powell is seen as a moderate voice in the Republican Party and supports abortion rights and affirmative action.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, a Los Angeles author and political analyst, said Belafonte's remarks illustrate how blacks who aren't ``pro-civil rights, pro-Democratic party, pro-liberalism'' are called names such as ``Uncle Tom, Aunt Jemima, house slave, instead of dealing with the legitimate political differences someone may have.''

Belafonte said he used the reference because ``we're still living out the slave code'' in poor minority neighborhoods.

``If you go to Over-the-Rhine (neighborhood) in Cincinnati and look at the way in which those people live, it is everything equal to what slavery was in the psychological, emotional and economic sense of oppression,'' he said.

The United States should work harder to pursue diplomatic solutions with Iraq, he said.

Many domestic issues have been left ``seriously unattended,'' Belafonte said, noting the high number of incarcerated blacks. ``We're building more prisons than we have schools or hospitals.''

[ChadGore]

Powell is not the one that is making millions off of songs that promote a horribly sad and outdated stereotype of proud americans of color.

day o', Harry?

[joesnuffy]

Thats funny married to a white woman he must be trying to 'get the white out' of his own gene pool...

[eddie willers]

Wolf Blitzer ask her about Belafonte's slur today.
She said: "I don't need Harry Belafonte telling me what it means to be black."

[eddie willers]

day o', Harry?

Me want to go home.

[Orual]

Many domestic issues have been left ``seriously unattended,'' Belafonte said, noting the high number of incarcerated blacks.

Huh? Are police stopping black men and women on the streets and throwing them into prison only because they are black? Harry, you said several stupid things and I don't care how many "humanitarian" efforts you are involved with, it doesn't excuse ignorant, ill-informed, insulting remarks emanating from your own prejudice and bias.

[ChadGore]

. . noting the high number of incarcerated blacks.

That time and time again continue to be inline with the high number of crimes commited.

[randita]

``If you go to Over-the-Rhine (neighborhood) in Cincinnati and look at the way in which those people live, it is everything equal to what slavery was in the psychological, emotional and economic sense of oppression,'' he said.

Over the Rhine--that's the place where law enforcement officers (white and black) cannot even enforce the law or else they are called racists.

[Dialup Llama]

Condi and Powell are substantial people of achievement. They are in the White House based on their contributions NOT as tokens. Harry B. resents them.

[ChadGore]

Re: Over the Rhine--that's the place where law enforcement officers (white and black) cannot even enforce the law or else they are called racists.

Correct ! Under Harrys "de-policing" plan it would be twice as bad, but don't you dare tell a liberal the truth . . .shhhhhhhhh ;)

[Great Dane]

I have never heard Harry Belafonte speak like this before, most disappointing.

[Dialup Llama]

>Wolf Blitzer ask her about Belafonte's slur today.
>She said: "I don't need Harry Belafonte telling me what it means to be black."

She who? You mean Condi? If so, then thats a great comeback. She tends not to hold back her opinions the way Powell might.

[ChadGore]

Re: Harry B. resents them . .

BECAUSE of their achievements and contributions to a grateful nation.

[dighton]

Harry, you said several stupid things ...

Make a habit of it, and people will conclude -- quite reasonably, in my opinion -- that you're stupid.

[Common Tator]

Now it's a term being used by activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte to describe Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The United States first Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson. It is hard for me to think of anyone who holds Thomas Jefferson's old job as a house slave. I wonder if anyone ever refered to Thomas Jefferson as George Washington's house slave. Geo W.(the first) refered to Thomas Jefferson as a very popular independent thinker that Geo W (the first) found hard to control. I have no doubt that this Geo W. (the Bush) feels the same way about Powell. I think Belafonte is observing from waaaaay in the back of the banna pickers line and daylight has not come yet but he still want go home.

To a field hand waiting for the tally man, to tally his bannana, any black man in a suit looks like a house "you know what".

[eddie willers]

She who? You mean Condi?

Yes...and there was fire and contempt in her eyes when she said it.
Bravo!

[boomop1]

He is and always has been a commie.

[oyez]

Because Powell dosn't sing and dance?

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

He said National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice had also failed to meet his high expectations for fellow minorities.

Belefonte and his ilk belong to the

step-n-fetch-it

wing of the leftist liberal wannabis who feel "safe" tethered to the Democrat plantation.

These blacks need not think for themselves because their self-appointed leaders like massas Sharpton, Jesse and Calypso Louie will tell them how to think.

These stooges are threatened by black conservatives who have offered a different role model.......a model of independence, integrity and self-motivation......everything which the white liberal establishment has tried to suppress fro 40 years!

[monkeyshine]

What a bunch of bullshot. If Belafonte doesn't like the policies, he has every right to complain about them -- that's America. But he is singling out the blacks in the administration for ridicule and derision. There is nothing American about that. It's rude, it's inappropriate, and it's misdirected. It's an attempt to divide Americans by color instead of ideology. And it's completely anti-intellectual. What are his arguments? Why is he opposed to going to war in Iraq? He is not cogent or clear on that -- all he gives us is this shrill, inflammatory, incindiary ridicule about the African Americans in the administration. It's below the belt and totally unacceptable. He should be shamed out of the public eye.

[Fintan]

He said National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice had also failed to meet his high expectations for fellow minorities.

Yep, that pretty much sums up the leftist, Marxist mindset:

You don't think like me.

[Mr. Mojo]

"The question is, should he have said it and should he have said it in the way he did? Therein lies a great deal of discussion and even criticism within the black community,"

No, the question is whether or not Belafonte told the truth. And the answer, obviously, is no. How can (the majority of) blacks arrive at the correct answer when they're not even asking the correct question?

[FITZ]

Thats funny married to a white woman he must be trying to 'get the white out' of his own gene pool...

What is Belefonte's label for black men who marry white women?

[maranatha]

I ran a google search on Belafonte. This is nothing new for him. He's a communist. For years he has supported Marxist activities and is a Castro supporter. Check him out.

[Great Dane]

He is and always has been a commie.

LOL, Shows how little I pay attention to the entertainment crowd.

Never could understand why this type of person don't just move to a communist country....... after all they are free to do so.

[FITZ]

He said National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice had also failed to meet his high expectations for fellow minorities.

What bothers him is that Rice is meeting everyone's high expectation, she's not just working for minorities, she didn't become a social worker, she became a true leader. You can't say that of many black democrats, most like Jesse Jackson are tokens there to get the democrats votes, none are given real power.

[monkeyshine]

No sh*t. While poll after poll of African American inner city residents approve of school vouchers, oppose gun control, and are anti-abortion, their leaders obey the masters in the Democratic party and vote time and again against the desires and interests of their constituents.

But you don't see anyone calling them "house slaves" for doing the bidding of the elders of the Democratic party while ignoring the needs and wants of their "own people". What a disgrace. That is what makes this whole thing so anti-intellectual. Our country is slowly slipping away from intelligence. What counts for intelligence today, for reasoned debate, is how well you can dis somebody. The better the dis, the more intelligent you are.

[monkeyshine]

You know what? I don't care if he's a commie. It's his right to be a commie. It's also his right to be a rude SOB. But as a result of being a rude SOB he should be shunned shamed and ostracized, not glorified and giving interviews on TV. He has nothing intelligent to say about this. No cogent arguments, other than to use incindiary language to describe dedicated Americans. It's a disgrace to all thinking people that this nobody with nothing intelligent to say gets so much attention just for being a common everyday a**hole.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

She who? You mean Condi?

Yes...and there was fire and contempt in her eyes when she said it. Bravo!

Condi!

(swoon!)

[Stultis]

What's Belafonte complaining about? His "Massahs" have always been white:

[Betty Jane]

No sh*t. While poll after poll of African American inner city residents approve of school vouchers, oppose gun control, and are anti-abortion, their leaders obey the masters in the Democratic party and vote time and again against the desires and interests of their constituents.

Wasn't there a name for the blacks who were in charge of the other slaves? These guys were usually just as brutal as their masters. They wouold hand out beatings to other slaves if they didn't work hard enough. Were they "overseers"?

[Chemnitz]

I think it is noteworthy that Saturday Night Live made fun of the Banana Boat star last night. They also made fun of Barbra Streisand, having McCain sing her songs.

McCain did a great job on SNL. I think he should leave politics immediately and become a commedy star. He is a natural.

[boomop1]

He was sort of a silent commie so it wouldn't hurt his career, but now he is a washed up commie seeking attention.

[rockfish59]

Come Mr. Tally Man, tally up me house slaves!

[RWG]

entertainer Harry Belafonte...an oxymoron-entertainer is the oxy and Harry Belafonte is the moron.

[maranatha]

You're right. Same goes for all the airtime on serious news shows given to Woody, Sean, Barbra, Etc. I didn't know Belafonte's political views until I read about him during the Google search and thought it might help people who only know him as a singer, etc. Analyzing his remarks in black activist arena only like some have done is not really true, but must be viewed as just a part in the larger picture of a communist. All anti-Americans should be vilified loudly and often to raise public condemnation.

[Paul Atreides]

I want the mainstream media to interview black conservatives and let them tell prominent blacks what it means to be black. I won't hold my breath.

[Paul Atreides]

Hey Harry, let's put your resume next to Condolezza Rice's, and see how they compare!

[Paul Atreides]

To be honest, I didn't know he was still living.

[maranatha]

I want to hear from blacks from places like Barbados tell about their "black experience." They come to America without an English language background, with strong work ethics and grateful to be in the land of opportunity. They escape somehow all the hardship and racism claimed by blacks born here and they go on to become successful and do not become part of the welfare/affirmative action class.

[CyberAnt]

"look at the way in which those people live"

I love this comment!!! When are the blacks of this country going to realize the DEMOCRATS have kept them the "way those people live" for a reason - so they NEED the democrats for their handouts.

For all Clinton's spouting of his "being the first black president", I don't think he appointed any blacks to his cabinet - did he???

Give me a break!

[glory]

Belafonte said he used the reference because ``we're still living out the slave code'' in poor minority neighborhoods. >>

Ummm..Mr. Bela-foot in mouth, aren't poor minority neighborhoods usually run by democrats? So who again is enslaving who? What a bafoon!

[T Lady]

These stooges are threatened by black conservatives who have offered a different role model.......a model of independence, integrity and self-motivation......everything which the white liberal establishment has tried to suppress fro 40 years!

HOO-YAH!!!

It never ceases to amaze me just how "tolerant" the Black Left in America is of "Diversity".

...Except for diversity of thought-and political affiliation, that is.

[newzhawk]

I guess Harry was more proud of Jocelyn Elders- and the rejected Quota Queen ,Eric Holder(that referred to the Bush administration today as the Bush Regime)or the late Ron Brown!!! Let us not exclude Jesse the great Reverend Jackson !!! Puh lease Mr Tally man - tally the Dem slaves to the masters Clintons and McAuliffe!

[Dan Day]

Belafonte said he used the reference because ``we're still living out the slave code'' in poor minority neighborhoods. ``If you go to Over-the-Rhine (neighborhood) in Cincinnati and look at the way in which those people live, it is everything equal to what slavery was in the psychological, emotional and economic sense of oppression,'' he said.

Well sure, Harry -- that's because anyone who makes it out and succeeds in life is denounced as a "sellout" to the "white master" and a "house slave".

So it's no surprise that so many people end up stuck there, believing that to stay in squalor is more "noble" than to "sell out" by actually getting along with and working alongside the 88% of the country that isn't black.

[adam stevens]

And a triator!

[adam stevens]

He is opposed to America defending itself against Iraq because he wants to se us defeated by teh Islamofascists. He probably celebrated September 11 and donated money to Al Queda.

[adam stevens]

Do you feel he has a right to be a traitor.

[adam stevens]

Why do you think he criticized his leftist allies?