The Observer, March 3, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 19
Harry Belafonte Speaks at Case
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Harry Belafonte, the musician, artist, humanitarian, and civil rights activist, spoke before a packed Strosacker Auditorium this past Tuesday, Feb. 28. Belafonte was originally scheduled to speak at Case in early February, but delayed his appearance to speak at Coretta Scott King's funeral.
During the talk, Belafonte spoke about many causes important to him. He opened the speech on a humorous note, moving onto more serious matters such as the state of the prison system in the Unite States and the incarceration of black children. "If it is a matter of public policy, we are building more prisons than we are schools, what are we saying to the young people of the future?" Belafonte said. "Why are we doing this? What does the nation anticipate? That we're going to fill these prisons?"
Belafonte continued speaking about the importance of action in today's society and of problems he perceives. He spoke for the remainder of the 90 minute speech about the repression of minorities in the United States. He also spoke about the state of politics in the country. "George Bush is not only a terrorist, but a traitor," Belafonte said, referring to his belief that the President has undermined the Constitution. He talked about the country's stance on global warming, nuclear arms, the trade deficit with China, and the denial of opportunity to underprivileged minorities.
Belafonte closed the speech explaining the reason for his absence from King's funeral, which was also the reason for his postponement of the previously scheduled speech. "When George W. Bush decided to attend the funeral, I found my invitation rescinded," Belafonte said.
Case students had a lot to say about Belafonte's speech after its conclusion. "I thought it was a very well-delivered speech, and it had a lot of very good points in it," freshman Mitch Parlett said.
Another student approved of the messages Belafonte was sending through his speech. "His message truly hit home on many topics that need to be in the awareness of all Americans. I completely enjoyed the thought-provoking message from such an esteemed man," freshman Camille Thornton said.
Other students were not as impressed with Belafonte's speech. "It wasn't so much as in substance as it was a lot of subjective nature to it, you know it was kind of like a propaganda issue, kind of like trying to raise initiative," student Michelle Shea said. "Overall, I thought it was kind of like telling people to move and to change, just to go out there and to do something. It wasn't really to reflect on what he had done and reflect what the concerns were."
