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No apology from Belafonte
16/10/2002 10:22 - (SA)
Washington - Singer-activist Harry Belafonte, in a television interview late on Tuesday, refused to take back a comparison he made between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and a house slave, despite Powell's demand for an apology.
Asked by CNN's Larry King if he would change the October 9
statement he made in a radio interview in San Diego, California,
Belafonte calmly answered: "No.
"I would perhaps put it in a context ... but in essence, I
wouldn't change the statement," Belafonte said after stressing that he was criticising the policy of the White House administration Powell serves.
"It's not about the man," said the singer, who shares Jamaican descent with Powell.
Belafonte was given a full hour interview by CNN's talk show
host to clarify a snafu that caused furore and led Powell, the
highest-ranking African-American official in the history of the US government, to call Belafonte's comments an "unfortunate throwback to another time and another place".
More criticism
Instead of apologising, Belafonte further criticised Powell for
not opposing President George W Bush's "less than honourable" policies, including his proposed military intervention in Iraq, and even backed his reference to slavery.
"Slavery is a noble part of black history," he said. "As a matter of fact, we've forgotten it much too quickly and much too easily," he said.
Belafonte said that by calling Powell a house slave he meant
that the official had compromised his ideals and principles by
serving blindly for a conservative administration.
He said his views of Powell applied even more strongly to Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, also an
African-American, from whom he had never heard, "even the
suggestion towards some of the more lenient thoughts or some of the more appropriate thoughts that Colin Powell has expressed."
Both Powell and Rice underscore the "long way" African-Americans have come in US society, Belafonte said. "That does not, however, diminish how far it is we still have to go.
"And just evoking the person's gender, because Condoleezza Rice is a woman, and her colour, because she's black, does not justify abdication of moral responsibility. That does not make it all right or better."
Belafonte said he was glad his comment on Powell "woke him up ... made him pay attention", adding that if he was Powell or Rice he would "use the platform to speak out against the ill-advised policies of the administration.
"I would go as far as inviting to be fired, if that's what happens." - Sapa/AFP
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South Africa
