African American Film and Civil Rights History Harry Belafonte Performance and Screen Career Photographs, 1957–1964

Harry Belafonte

Photograph

Anonymous photographs of Harry Belafonte, produced 1957–1964, document the intersection of African American performance, film, and civil rights visibility during a period of expanding Black representation in American media. Belafonte, a Harlem-born singer, actor, and activist, gained national prominence through the popularization of Caribbean folk music and calypso in mainstream entertainment while simultaneously maintaining an active role in civil rights organizing and close collaboration with Martin Luther King Jr.. The photographs provide visual evidence of his dual position as a mass-media performer and political figure, supporting research into mid-twentieth-century African American cultural production, celebrity activism, and the integration of Black performers into television, film, and stage at a time when access to these platforms remained constrained.

Archive of 8 original black and white photographs, 1957–1964, ranging approximately from 7" x 9.5" to 10" x 8". The group includes posed portraits of Belafonte smiling toward the camera, including one image in which he holds a guitar, alongside three theatrical performance photographs capturing him singing on stage, including one image of him on bended knees in a dramatic performance stance. One photograph depicts Belafonte with Dorothy Dandridge from the 1958 film Island in the Sun, situating the archive within interracial casting and representation in mid-century cinema. Another image, issued as a promotional still for The World, the Flesh and the Devil, shows Belafonte pulling a wagon while dressed in a suit, emphasizing his leading role in a post-apocalyptic narrative centered on race and isolation. All photographs bear publisher name and date stamps on the versos, indicating their circulation within press and promotional networks tied to film and performance industries.

These photographs align with Belafonte’s emergence as one of the most visible African American entertainers of the mid-twentieth century, including his work in film and his role as one of the first African American television producers. His career developed alongside major civil rights campaigns of the late 1950s and early 1960s, during which Black performers increasingly used media visibility to support political advocacy and challenge racial barriers in entertainment industries. The combination of performance imagery, film stills, and promotional material situates Belafonte within both commercial entertainment systems and civil rights networks, offering a focused visual record of Black cultural leadership in the United States during this period. Light surface wear and minor handling present; verso stamps remain clear; overall very good condition.

Item #19781

Price: $580.00