Famed singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte is suing the estate of one of America’s most important heroes, Martin Luther King Jr. According to the suit, the family of the late great civil rights leader held three items that the “King of Calypso” intended on auctioning. These items were all incredibly valuable or rare in nature–including an outline to a Vietnam War speech, notes to another speech that King was unable to give in Memphis Tenn., and a condolence letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Belafonte and the King’s relationship was well documented, Corretta Scott King even mentioned him in her autobiography. She stated that “whenever we got into trouble or tragedy struck, Harry has always come to our aid, his generous heart wide open.” Corretta Scott was the person who originally gave the songwriter both the speech notes and the condolence letter. While, Belafonte received the outline for the Vietnam War speech when Martin Luther King Jr. left them in his apartment after the pair had been working on it, a tradition that the orator was known for and one his family has recent begun to challenge the validity of.
Apparently Belafonte handed over the items to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Inc in 2008. To his surprise the family halted the selling of the documents, and have held onto them since that time. His suit has been filed but the news has not yet been comprehended by all the parties involved. However, it is a tragic turn of events, especially for a man who seems to be held in such high regard by Martin and Corretta King.
Jimi (@Nativejimi)
