Harry Belafonte's virtual birthday party: Jay-Z, Tiffany Haddish, Pete Buttigieg added to attendees list
Feb 24, 2021
Washington [US], February 24 : American rapper Jay-Z, actor Tiffany Haddish, singer Usher, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Charlamagne Tha God, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Susan Sarandon, and Pete Buttigieg are the latest guests announced to appear at 'The Gathering of Harry,' -- a surprise virtual party for singer Harry Belafonte's 94th birthday.
According to Variety, the event will air live on February 28 at 7 p.m.
Belafonte's family members, friends, artists, athletes, elected officials and activists will help honour his legacy with live performances, video tributes and testimonials. Jay-Z will also be accepting 'The Gatekeeper of Truth Award' for his support to organisers on the frontlines during the current political climate and his inspiration to multiple generations.
According to Variety, the list of previously announced guests include Common, Danny Glover, Chuck D, Bernie and Jane Sanders, Stacey Abrams, Aloe Blacc, Tamika D. Mallory, Rev. Al Sharpton, Aja Monet, Mysonne The General, Diane Nash, Carmen Perez-Jordan, DJ Carisma and Bryan Stevenson.
The event will benefit the non-profit organisation 'The Gathering for Justice', which Belafonte started in 2005 after seeing a news report of a 5-year-old Black girl being handcuffed and arrested in her Florida classroom for 'being unruly.' The organisation's mission is to build a movement to end child incarceration while working to eliminate the racial inequities that permeate the justice system.
President and CEO Carmen Perez-Jordan has led the organisation since 2010. Dannese Mapanda serves as the chief operating officer, while Jasmine Dellafosse is the senior regional organiser. Kristine Arroyo is the program administrator and office manager, and Luis Jonathan Hernandez is the national director of youth campaigns and leadership.
As reported by Variety, the virtual event is sponsored in part by Frontline Solutions, the Hope and Robert F. Smith Family, and the National Basketball Player Association Foundation.
