Harry Belafonte on Bush, Iraq, Hurricane Katrina ...

The son of Caribbean-born immigrants, Harry Belafonte grew up on the streets of Harlem and Jamaica. After serving in World War II, he returned to New York and began a successful acting and singing career. Along with his rise to worldwide stardom, Belafonte became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was close friends with the Rev. Martin Luther King. In the 1980's he helped initiate the "We Are the World" single which helped raise millions of dollars in aid to Africa. He also hosted former South African President Nelson Mandela on his triumphant visit to the United States. Belafonte has been a longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy, calling for an end to the embargo against Cuba, and opposing policies of war and global oppression. [includes rush transcript]

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Today we are joined by the legendary musician, actor and humanitarian, Harry Belafonte.

The son of Caribbean-born immigrants, Harry Belafonte grew up on the streets of Harlem and Jamaica. At the age of 17, he dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy. After serving in World War II, he returned to New York and began a successful acting and singing career. In the 1950s he spearheaded the Calypso craze with a string of hits. He is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song," with its signature lyric "Day-O." His third album, titled "Calypso", became the first in history to sell over one million copies. He was also the first African-American to win an Emmy, with his solo TV special "Tonight with Belafonte."

Along with his rise to worldwide stardom, Harry Belafonte became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1956, he met the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and the two quickly became friends.

He sent money to bail King out of the Birmingham City Jail and raised thousands of dollars to release other imprisoned protesters. He financed the Freedom Rides, and supported voter-registration drives and helped to organize the March on Washington in 1963.

In the 1980"s he helped initiate the star-studded "We Are the World" single, which raised tens of millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia, calling global attention to the humanitarian crises in Africa.

A longtime anti-apartheid activist, Belafonte hosted former South African President Nelson Mandela on his triumphant visit to the United States. In 1987 he was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Belafonte has been a longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy, calling for an end to the embargo against Cuba, and opposing policies of war and global oppression. Earlier this month, he led a delegation of activists, including actor Danny Glover and professor Cornel West, to Venezuela to meet with President Hugo Chavez. Belafonte spoke at a rally in Caracas, where he commented on President Bush.

* Harry Belafonte, speaking in Venezuela, January 2006.

Belfonte was standing next to Chavez when he made those comments. And he didn't let up. Belafonte also recently spoke in commemoration of Martin Lurther King Day at Duke University where he said, "Bush has led us into a dishonorable war that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people...What is the difference between that terrorist and other terrorists?" And in a speech to the annual meeting of the Arts Presenters Members Conference days later he said, "We've come to this dark time in which the new Gestapo of Homeland Security lurks here, where citizens are having their rights suspended."

Harry Belafonte joins us in our firehouse studio today for the hour.

* Harry Belafonte, musician, actor and activist.

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