Sing Your Song

Sing Your Song
Promotional release poster
Directed bySusanne Rostock
Written bySusanne Rostock
Produced by
StarringHarry Belafonte
Edited byJason L. Pollard
Susanne Rostock
Music byHahn Rowe
Release dates
  • January 21, 2011 (2011-01-21) (Sundance)
  • September 2, 2011 (2011-09-02) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$45,765[1]

Sing Your Song is a 2011 American documentary film about singer, actor, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte. The film recounts his life and legacy, not only as a great entertainer, but as an important activist in the Civil Rights Movement.

This inspirational biographical film begins with Belafonte's birth into poverty in Harlem in 1927, and childhood years in Jamaica, sent there by his immigrant mother. Director Susanne Rostock takes the viewer through his discovery of theater and training as an actor as a young man, and on to his career and success as a singer.

The film shows not only Belafonte's remarkable success as a singer and actor, but also his true passion for social change. The film outlines some highlights of his entertainment career, but is more focused on how he helped change the world in other ways: marching with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil-rights era; working against apartheid in South Africa; fighting hunger through his instrumental work with USA for Africa; and, most recently, working to combat gang violence through programs with inner-city youth.[2]

In an interview about the film, Belafonte discussed his activism from Civil Rights to poverty in Africa.[3]

  1. ^ "Sing Your Song (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  2. ^ Macdonald, Moira (January 26, 2012). "'Sing Your Song' recounts Harry Belafonte's life". Seattle Times.
  3. ^ Johnson, G. Allen (January 26, 2012). "'Sing Your Song': Harry Belafonte on activism". San Francisco Chronicle.