Weekend Self-Care: Two Legends Living Into Their 90s
(Carol Burnett, Harry Belafonte, and Julie Andrews c. 1962)
We end the week by honoring not one, but two trailblazers.
This past week we sadly lost the incomparable Harry Belafonte at the ripe old age of 96. Belafonte was a true trailblazer in every sense of the word. He was an immense talent, having won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and having popularized calypso music for the world to hear. But also, he used his celebrity to advocate for social justice, being at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement at a time when he could have easily stayed away and kept out of the public eye. But it was simply too important to him not to be involved. Inspired by his mentor Paul Robeson, Belafonte would sit hand-in-hand with Martin Luther King, Jr. and would even be the one to help bail him out of his Birmingham jail. He contributed to the 1961 Freedom Rides, supported voter registration drives, and helped plan the March on Washington. Later on, he would come to criticize American foreign policy and the George W. Bush Administration while supporting Barack Obama's rise to the White House in 2008. In short, he was the perceived George Soros of his time, and the fact that he did it all as a strong, powerful Black man ruffled countless Republican feathers throughout his life. He was truly a legend and he will be missed.
While we mourn Belafonte's passing we must also treasure those still with us. This past week saw the 90th birthday of none other than Carol Burnett, a remarkable trailblazing woman. Burnett was also immensely talented as demonstrated by her Emmy, Tony, and Grammy awards but again it was what she did with her fame that helped define her. Burnett was the first woman to host a comedy variety show when The Carol Burnett Show debuted in 1973. Yes, you read that right. Women have only been given the opportunity to host television variety shows for 50 years and it was Burnett who put those wheels in motion. Every woman on television today owes Burnett a huge debt of gratitude for putting herself out there and showing the big-wig men in the CBS boardroom that not only were women funny but that their comedy would attract viewers and make their program a hit. Those of us of younger generations often take the diversity we see on television for granted but it should be noted that so many opportunities for women on television were provided as a result of Burnett's courage to show the world just how funny and downright enjoyable a woman-directed television variety program could be.
So let us do dual honors this weekend. Raise your glasses to both Harry and Carol. Thank them both for the smiles, laughs, and love they provided us. Wish Carol much health and happiness as she enters her 10th decade on this third rock from the sun. Take a moment to reflect on Harry's life and legacy. Honor them by living your fullest life as we all strive to age as gracefully as they both did. It's the least we can do.
This is your Harry Belafonte/Carol Burnett weekend self-care open thread.