Julie Robinson Belafonte (1928–2024), actress and activist
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2 min readJulie Robinson Belafonte was an actress and activist best known as the longtime wife of Harry Belafonte (1927–2023).
- Died: March 9, 2024 (Who else died on March 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 95.
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Julie Robinson Belafonte’s legacy
Belafonte was best known for her work in the civil rights movement alongside her husband during their 50-year marriage. They were introduced by Marlon Brando (1924–2004) in the mid-1950s, and they began seeing each other while Harry was still married to his first wife. Eight days after his divorce, in 1957, they married, prompting gossip about both the quick turnaround and the fact that she was white and interracial marriage was still illegal in portions of the United States and rare even where it was allowed. Yet the Belafontes were inspirational to some, and their high-profile union helped pave the way for the widespread acceptance of interracial marriage. They had two children, David and Gina, and they divorced after 50 years, in 2007.
Alongside her husband, Belafonte joined in the fight for civil rights, including taking part in the legendary marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in support of voting rights. At those marches, she suggested that the civil rights activists who were working every day toward voter registrations should march in front of the celebrity attendees. Belafonte also fundraised for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and co-founded its women’s division. Additionally, she worked with Coretta Scott King (1927–2006) to organize a women’s march in Washington, D.C., to protest the Vietnam War.
In addition to her activism, Belafonte was also an actress and a dancer. She appeared alongside Kirk Douglas (1916–2020) in the 1956 Vincent Van Gogh biopic “Lust for Life,” and she had roles in “Mambo,” “A Safe Place,” and “Buck and the Preacher.” She studied dance with Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) and was the first white member of her dance company. She went on to work as a dance instructor at Dunham’s school, where she taught such notables as Brando and Alvin Ailey (1931–1989).
Tributes to Julie Robinson Belafonte
Full obituary: The New York Times
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