New Biography Explores Harry Belafonte's Deep Connection to Jewish Culture
A new biography titled 'Daylight Come' by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro delves into the lifelong affinity of the late singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte for Jewish culture. The book highlights how Belafonte, known for popularizing 'The Banana Boat Song,' also brought the Jewish folk song 'Hava Nagila' to global recognition after learning it from a local cantor. Belafonte's connection to Jewish traditions was a significant part of his life, influenced by his upbringing in New York amidst Jewish communities and his understanding of the Holocaust. He incorporated Jewish songs like 'Hava Nagila' and 'Hinei Ma Tov' into his repertoire, performing them in places like Berlin in 1958, shortly after World War II, conveying Jewish humanity and culture to German audiences. The biography also touches on his father's unverified claim of Dutch Jewish ancestry from Martinique and his close relationships with Jewish individuals and causes throughout his career. 
