I grew up listening to Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall on my parent's old record player. He was my first favorite singer and my earliest exposure to folk music

I grew up listening to Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall on my parent's old record player. He was my first favorite singer and my earliest exposure to folk music’s ability to educate and enlighten. From a young age I understood some of what discrimination must feel like from the characters in his songs, and still know every word to “Darlin’ Cora”. It built a basis of empathy for me to grow from and I’ll forever be thankful. What an incredible 96 years of art and leadership in the pursuit of civil rights and equality.