Harry Belafonte at USF University Lecture Series
Tue Jan 16, 8:00 PM - Tue Jan 16, 10:00 PM

The lecture will take place during USF’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Week in January. MLK Week brings the university community together through events and programs that honor King’s dream and vision.

Belafonte is best known for his hit song “Day-O,” which earned him the distinction of being the first recording artist to sell over a million copies of a single album in 1956. In 1960, he became the first black performer to win an Emmy Award. Years earlier, Belafonte met King on his historic visit to New York and the two men developed a deep friendship. Belafonte played a key role in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. Having spent decades on the frontlines of social justice struggle all over the world, from the Civil Rights Movement in the United States to anti-apartheid efforts in Africa, Belafonte possesses deep experience in this arena.

Whether drawing on his friendship with King, his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, or his role as celebrity ambassador for juvenile justice issues with the American Civil Liberties Union, Belafonte is expected to provide the audience with his perspective on social issues – from the Black Lives Matter movement and equal rights struggles to U. S. foreign policy and humanitarianism in Africa.

The lecture is free and open to the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis following priority seating for USF Tampa students. Doors open approximately 30 minutes before the lecture start time. Real time captioning will be provided; additional reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request by calling 813-974-1001 (FL Relay 711). For more information about the lecture series, including the audience policy, visit the ULS website.