“A tree is best measured when it is down,” the poet Carl Sandburg once observed, “and so it is with people.” The recent death of Harry Belafonte at the age of 96 has prompted many assessments of what this pioneering singer-actor-activist accomplished in a long and fruitful life.
Belafonte’s career as a ground-breaking entertainer brought him substantial wealth and fame; according to Playbill magazine, “By 1959, he was the highest paid Black entertainer in the industry, appearing in raucously successful engagements in Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles.” He scored on Broadway, winning a 1954 Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical – John Murray Anderson's Almanac. Belafonte was the first Black person to win the prestigious award. A 1960 television special, “Tonight with Belafonte,” brought him an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series, making him the first Black person to win that award. He found equal success in the recording studio, bringing Calypso music to the masses via such hits as “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jamaica Farewell.”
Harry Belafonte - Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) (Live)www.youtube.com
Belafonte’s blockbuster stardom is all the more remarkable for happening in a world plagued by virulent systemic racism. Though he never stopped performing, by the early 1960s he’d shifted his energies to the nascent Civil Right movement. He was a friend and adviser to the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. and, as the New York Times stated, Belafonte “put up much of the seed money to help start the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was one of the principal fund-raisers for that organization and Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that “he helped launch one of Mississippi’s first voter registration drives and provided funding for the Freedom Riders. His activism extended beyond the U.S. as he fought against apartheid alongside Nelson Mandela and Miriam Makeba, campaigned for Mandela’s release from prison, and advocated for famine relief in Africa.” And in 1987, he received an appointment to UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador.
Over a career spanning more than seventy years, Belafonte brought joy to millions of people. He also did something that is, perhaps, even greater: he fostered the hope that a better world for all could be created. And, by his example, demonstrated how we might go about bringing that world into existence.
Working Out Regularly Was Hard: Here's Why I Tried BodyBoss
You Got This!
As long as I can remember, I've felt about 10 pounds away from a confident body. Whether it's making sure I bought the high waisted swimsuit to hide my tummy or wearing cardigans to cover my arm flab, I just never felt 100% confident in my own skin. After I had my first child, Libby, I gained another 20lbs and found myself feeling really unattractive and uncomfortable in my new-mom body. It was a really rough time for me emotionally, my daughter became the absolute light of my life and gave me a whole new kind of joy, but I was also exhausted all the time, and the extra weight made me feel really insecure. I knew I needed to finally find something that could help me transform my body, so I could be a confident and healthy example for my daughter growing up.
I started doing some research, but I really didn't think I could find a program that would work for me, especially since I hate going to the gym (comparing myself to all those pink sports bra wearing 20-year-olds? No thanks) and now that I had Libby I didn't have time to anyway. I was chatting with some of the other moms on my new-mom Facebook support group, and they recommended BodyBoss. It's a fitness program you can do entirely at home, without equipment, and without a fancy smart TV. It's a book that explains everything along with videos that guide you through a 12-week program of HIIT strength training exercises--intense sessions that are less than 30 minutes each day, three days a week. I looked online, and a lot of women seemed to like the BodyBoss HIIT—the High-Intensity Interval Training that gives you the #BossEffect, so you keep burning more calories even when your workouts over. They even posted before and after pictures of the amazing results they saw in a matter of weeks.
I was still hesitant; I didn't think I would have the motivation to do workouts on my own, or I would do them wrong. But, the pictures online were real, with real women just like me achieving their goals. Plus, they had a really active online community where hundreds of women help motivate and support each other as they work towards their goals. It was hard to argue with the results staring me in the face, so I decided to be brave for Libby and take the plunge. I ordered the BodyBoss Fitness Guide and poured myself a glass of wine to cheers myself for taking the first step towards transforming my body and becoming a more confident self.
The first day I tried the workout, I was really nervous. And I'm not going to lie; it was hard! I understand how HIIT workouts burn fat so rapidly because they're designed to help you make the most out of your time and really kick your butt. Even though I found the first few sessions challenging (I didn't realize how out of shape I was!), I was impressed that I had an easy time understanding exactly what I was supposed to be doing because the book used pictures to make everything really clear. After the first week, something magical happened: the workouts started getting easier. Each week I found I had more energy, was stronger, and less sore. That amazing feeling of getting a little stronger each week ended up giving me the motivation I was afraid I wouldn't have to complete the whole 12-week program. And in the first weeks when I was worried I wouldn't be good enough, I turned to the online community and they cheered me on and gave me the strength to keep going. I saw comments from these amazing women like Samantha, Mindy, and Tina, who were always sharing little tips and words of encouragement to help newbies like me. I also started joining them every Monday for the free Facebook LIVE sessions where we got tips, recipes, and answers to our questions from Kim Lyons, the top trainer from one of my favorite TV weight-loss shows, The Biggest Loser. She's a busy mom like me, and that helped so much!
After completing the 12 weeks, I lost six inches of stubborn belly fat from my waist and was four jeans sizes smaller. I was more toned and stronger than I ever had been when I used to rely on dieting and cardio, and the superfoods and recipes were so yummy, I got this whole new level of energy and confidence. Even my husband noticed and complimented me, a lot. BodyBoss really made all the difference, because they let me work out on my own time, without going to the gym. Now I don't shy away from mirrors, I don't feel like I need to keep the lights off when I'm around my hubby, and I feel like a strong woman my daughter will be proud to call Mom.
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