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Black History Year

Harry Belafonte Tricked A Racist Landlord In The Most Genius Way

Black History Year

PushBlack

History

4.62.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2024

⏱️ 3 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When yet another landlord denied Harry Belafonte's rental application, he knew it could only be because of race. So he got an idea – and they were NOT ready for the trick he had up his sleeve.


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2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.


The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by Thought Park.

0:03.0

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0:06.0

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0:09.0

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0:13.0

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0:16.0

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0:20.0

and hell-raising shows.

0:22.6

They're here. Fright Nights at Thought Park, the home of fear.

0:27.1

Book now at Thoughtpark.com.

0:33.6

Harry Belafonte tricked a racist landlord in the most genius way.

0:39.3

This is two-minute black history, what you didn't learn in school.

0:44.3

When yet another landlord denied his rental application, he knew it could only be because of race.

0:53.3

So he got an idea, and they were not ready for the trick that he had up his sleeve.

0:58.7

He was furious.

1:00.3

How could they deny him again?

1:02.8

Harry Belafonte had sold millions of records and had the bank account to prove it, but still,

1:07.9

Manhattan landlords kept refusing him. Despite his fame, white supremacy was relentless.

1:14.6

In 1958, housing was rife with racist landlords who refused to rent to black people.

1:21.6

But Mr. Balafonte not only had money, he had an extremely clever trick up his sleeve.

1:28.3

First, he sent his white publicist to get the rental paperwork in his place.

1:33.0

But someone told the building manager that a black tenant had moved in and within hours

1:37.5

they forced him to leave.

...

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