The Southern Christian Leadership (SCL) Foundation unveils events in Birmingham honoring Harry Belafonte as part the city’s year-long 50 Years Forward Celebration of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.
The actor/activist raised thousands of dollars to pay for bail and legal support during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham from 1963-1966. In 1966, he co-founded, along with Sidney Poitier, the Southern Christian Leadership (SCL) Foundation. He returns to Birmingham to a celebration of his commitment and involvement in one of the most important historic moments in the United States.
Recognizing these significant and historical contributions, Mayor William Bell has designated April 8-13, 2013 as Harry Belafonte Week. Also during that week, Birmingham will be the host city for the 46th Year Conference of the Southern Christian Leadership (SCL) Foundation.
1. Wednesday and Thursday – April 10th-11th – 9:00 am- 5:00 pm – 46th Year Conference with workshops on HIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking at the BJCC on Richard Arrington Blvd. Free and Open to the public.
2. Thursday, April 11th- The Belafonte Film Festival – 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at The Carver Theater, 1631 4th Avenue, North. The festival highlights the film career of 50 Years Forward co-chair, Harry Belafonte. Films include the highly acclaimed Carmen Jones (co-starring Dorothy Dandridge) and the delightful comedy Uptown Saturday Night (co-starring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier). The cost is $5.00 per movie or $25.00 for all-day pass.
FILM SCHEDULE
9:00 am – “The World, the Flesh, and the Devil”
10:45 am – “Island in the Sun”
12:55 pm – “Carmen Jones”
2:50 pm – “Uptown Saturday Night”
Thursday, April 11th – 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Induction of Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte will be inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 11th at The Carver Theatre (Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame) located at 1631 4th Avenue North.
The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 pm followed by a screening of Sing Your Song, the biography of Mr. Belafonte. Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to the civil rights movement in America and Birmingham. The evening will culminate with a Q & A session, induction ceremony and special performance by the UAB jazz ensemble.
INDUCTION EVENTS
6:30 pm – Cocktail Reception
7:30 pm – “Sing Your Song” film screening
9:15 pm – Question & Answer Panel with Mr. Harry Belafonte
9:35 pm – Induction Ceremony
Tickets $40.00. For tickets each event go to – www.jazzhall.com/events or call 205.327.9424.
3. Friday, April 12th – The Power Belle Hat Tea™ with speaker Iyanla Vanzant who, along with Harry Belafonte, will honor women who have not been fully recognized for their contributions to the success of the Civil Rights Movement. The Tea will also recognize women who are continuing the legacy of helping to make life better for others.
The SCL Foundation, Inc. will join with Mayor William Bell and Harry Belafonte as they listen to energetic speaker, Iyanla Vanzant in a celebration of the dynamic women who helped change America and ultimately the world. Women from all walks of life will join Belafonte as he pays special recognition to a group of women who have not been fully recognized for their contributions as well as women who are continuing the legacy of helping to make life better for others. The Power Belle Legacy Award recipients are:
- Ruby Shuttlesworth,
- Doris Gary,
- Lola H. Hendricks,
- Yvonne Turner,
- Ruth Barefield-Pendleton,
- Leola Early,
- LaVerne Revis Martin,
- Lois M. Hall and
- Julia Rainge.
The Power Belle Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Amelia Boynton Robinson. Most of the honorees range from 75 to 102 years of age and have never been recognized fully for their contribution to a very important time in the history of Birmingham. They were the infrastructure of the movement, without which the movement would not have been successful.
Dr. Lucenia Dunn, SCL Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees member and Creative Director of the event says: “This list does not include all of the women who should be recognized, but it represents a good start. It was important that the movement had people to march and be willing to serve time in jail. However, other roles and responsibilities were as critical to the success of the movement led by such great leaders as Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event’s purpose is to salute those who worked in the trenches to keep things moving.”
The Power Belle Bold Hat Award recipients are:
- C. Virginia Fields,
- Lajuana Bradford,
- Nyya Parson-Hudson,
- Katie Davis,
- Congresswoman Terri Sewell,
- Sunnetta “Sunny” Sheppard,
- Judge Carole Smitherman and
- Isabel Rubio.
These women are following the tradition of courageous and gallant action that improves the lives of others. They are involved in helping to eliminate HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and discrimination and represent the realization of the dreams promoted by the women who so bravely fought for the ability of these women to occupy their present status. It is 50 years forward.
Wear a beautiful hat to the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC), located at 2101 Richard Arrington Jr., Blvd, North. Tickets are $80.00. A portion of the proceeds to be donated to a Birmingham organization that focuses on providing support services to women who are living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets for the Power Belle Hat Tea™ can be purchased through the web at: www.jazzhall.com/events or call 205.327.9424.
4. Saturday, April 13th – The Belafonte Q Award™ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm – An evening of honor and prestige, the First Annual Belafonte Q Awards™ is dedicated to Harry Belafonte and will be held at 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 13th at The Worship Center Christian Church – Bessemer Campus, located at 7555 Dickey Springs Roads in Bessemer, Alabama. It will honor Belafonte for his lifelong contributions to humanity as well as his support of and leadership in the civil rights movement.
Bernice L. Frazier, President/CEO of the SCL Foundation, Inc. noted, “On behalf of the SCL Foundation, Inc., we thank the City of Birmingham for inviting our organization to participate in the 50 Years Forward Commemorations as a signature partner. It is our pleasure to bring Mr. Harry Belafonte to Birmingham, to be honored and recognized for his contributions. He, along with SCL Foundation, Inc. co-founder, Sidney Poitier, helped to ensure there was money to help bail out of jail the people of the movement, particularly the children, who were arrested during the dark days of civil rights demonstrations. We encourage everyone, young and old, to come out and pay tribute to a man who has been committed to helping others all of his adult life.” The cost for general admission is $50.00 per ticket and VIP is $75.00 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at: www.jazzhall.com/events or call 205.327.9424.
