BlackFacts.com presents the black fact of the day for June 20.

Harry Belafonte became the first African American to win an Emmy award.

As one of the most successful African-American pop stars in history, he was dubbed the “King of Calypso” for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. 

He was an early supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, and one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s confidants. 

He financed the 1961 Freedom Rides, supported voter registration drives, and helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington.

Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for political and humanitarian causes, such as the anti-apartheid movement and USA for Africa. Since 1987, he has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

He was awarded an Emmy for his television special, Tonight Show with Harry Belafonte.

In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.

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