the program time now for a celebration of the life and legacy of an extraordinary individual, harry belafonte, where lipid, so i don't you don't rather say that he will come back garden, harry, i pick out the so-called king of calypso was a trailblazing singer actor and a tireless civil rights activists. >> now the new documentary following harry brings us an intimate look at belafonte is remarkable life story in the film includes many of the younger generation, belafonte inspired and mentor. but all so listen to including common parents, jordan, and activist who now heads up the gathering for justice, an ngo that was founded by bellefonte and the musician allo black, who along with common this month received the harry belafonte voices for social justice award welcome both of you to the program. here's an extraordinary documentary it's just so real time, like a tutorial, like a lesson evolving before your eyes. so we know that there's over incarceration of black and brown young people in the united states. and i want to play a little bit of hairy himself in the documentary. he talking about i

i believe when i think about my mentors and my heroes like harry belafonte and others they invested in the civil rights movement. they spent their money, they spent their social capital, and they use their platform to try to make the world better and always thought that was what an artist was supposed to do. so i feel like this is part of my calling as an artist. >> yeah. some of your work focuses on ending mass incarceration, reducing recidivism through the free america campaign are you seeing progress? there yeah, we want it to shine a light on this issue of mass incarceration in america, we started about ten years ago. >> and one of the seminal moments for organization and for me speaking out about this issue was standing on the stage at the oscars saying we are the most incarcerated country in the world. and we need to do something about it. and if we want to think about the legacy of dr. king and imagine what he might be working on now, i think this is one issues he would care about. and so we said about actually doing the work to try to make a difference and ending mass incarcera

during the vietnam war you had bob dylan, joan baez, harry belafonte, pete seeger among many others melody morals. they created beautiful music that countered the mainstream narrative and that certainly took a lot of courage. the vietnam war was not always unpopular despite the mythology that has emerged about that era. those protesting the war were not popular at the time, but they were, however, right. we've seen this kind of artistic response to injustice is happening time and time again in the late 80s and early 90s. hip-hop artists sounded the alarm on police violence and racism in black neighborhoods. from public enemy to queen latifah and even to pot, their message researched the masses in ways others could not. they forced conversations about what black americans were going through into the mainstream and gave white americans the first education about what was actually happening in black america and we are living in one of these moments again right now. for the past eight months, a new movement in music has emerged. palestinian artist and artists of all races and backgrounds were m

during the vietnam war, you had bob dylan, harry belafonte, pete seeger, melody inc.ul music that counter the mainstream narrative, and that certainly took a lot of courage. the vietnam war wasn't always unpopular, despite the mythology that has emerged about that era, those protesting the war were not popular at the time. but they were, however, right. we have seen this kind of artistic response to injustice happening time and time again. hip-hop artist sounded the alarm on police violence and racism in black neighborhoods. for public enemy to nwa, queen latifah, even tupac, their message reached the masses in a way others couldn't. they forced conversations about what black americans were going through into the mainstream and often gave white americans their first education about what was actually happening in black america. and we are living in one of these moments again right now. the past eight months, a new movement in music has emerged. palestinian artists and artists of all races and backgrounds are moved by what they are seeing unfold in gaza and are making t

and the people that bonded out were harry belafonte and sidney poitier. right. right. so it's this really unique that i start book with, because, you know, when you go around your and you have, you know, your parents or grandparent it's you, you sometimes stumble across pictures from their day. and i picked this picture and itk at and it shows interesting cross-section in the black community. grassroots activism, pop culture, entertaining men and wealth and. my father always says that they're individuals in ou not do enough, and that's what he was and back then they had to. harry and they had the poitier to join them in their the stevie wonder's oh yeah the correct so many more they actually lifted up the civil rights movement financially correct correct. and so he says the same thing. he utilizes kanye west in his description. and i, i said, daddy, kanye bingo put it in put it in the proper context. okay. and in terms. yeah, no, i kanye is what happens when -- read but doesn't either him or the so we a c-span please they'll be okay they will be okay but. no i go back

i believe when i think about my mentors and my heroes like harry belafonte and others they invested in the civil rights movement. they spent their money, they spent their social capital, and they use their platform to try to make the world better and i always thought that was what an artist was supposed to do. so i feel like this is part of my calling as an artist victor, tonight's juneteenth special is a celebration of freedom and legacy, but john legend and your other guests say they're still much more work to do, right? and john legend acknowledges that the work will never be finished, but there is some effort that can be made to reduce the disparities his work focuses on ending mass incarceration and reducing recidivism. i spoke with smokey robinson as well, who's now been touring since he was a teenager. he's now at 4-years-old. he talks about making sure that people go out to vote. that is what he's focused on. patty lewbel, also who performs? they all perform, but in her interview, she talks about making sure that the younger performers, the women in this industry, have leg up,

i believe when i think about my mentors and my heroes like harry belafonte and others they invested in the civil rights movement. they spent their money, they spent their social capital, and they use their platform to try to make the world better and always thought that was what an artist was supposed to do. so i feel like this is part of my calling as an artist watch the cnn special event, juneteenth celebrating freedom and legacy that errors at 10:00 p.m. tonight right here on cnn. >> and you can also stream it on santa and max. still ahead. a record-breaking heat wave in the northeast and midwest. it tropical storm barreling towards texas. and deadly wildfires burning in california and new mexico were following this purple one of dangerous weather events plus the head of the national guard is now criticizing putting us troops at the southern border mexico, saying it has quote, no military training value will more on his candid comments coming up the, simons are going off and the tornado here i'm thinking, i'm going to die. >> and i thought that was it with liev schreiber sunday at n

i believe when i think about my mentors and my heroes like harry belafonte and others they invested in the civil rights movement. they spent their money, they spent their social capital, and they use there platform to try to make the world better and i always thought that was what an artist was supposed to do so i feel like this is part of my calling as nardi is the grandmother of juneteenth miss opal lee says that 4 july independence de is the celebration of the freeing of the land. june 19th, juneteenth is the celebration of the freeing of the people. >> and this should be a season of celebration of freedom for all americans. so to you, dana, as you this the congresswoman, happy juneteenth you to and to all of us so well said. >> thank you so much, victor. i can't wait to watch tonight. don't forget to tune in to the cnn special eventual teeth celebrating freedom and legacy. you can watch it right here on cnn or stream it on max that's tonight at 10:00 p.m. eastern. and pacific coming up revenge is a dish best served cold and donald trump and kevin mccarthy could be on the verge of s

i believe when i think about my mentors and my heroes like harry belafonte and others.hey invested in the civil rights movement. they spent their money, they spent their social capital, and they use their platform to try to make the world better and i always thought that was what an artist was supposed to do. so i feel like this is part of my calling as an artist and cnn host, victor blackwell was with me. >> victor, this looks terrific tomorrow night special as a celebration of freedom and legacy by john legend, who is amazing and your other guests say there's much more work to do. isn't that right? >> yeah. there is a lots of work to do and john legend, smokey robinson, patty lewbel, they are doing that work. and i think that is the message of the evening that we hear from all of them is that you have to invest. this can be a moment of celebration juneteenth. it could be a motion, a moment of commemoration, but also a clarion call to get to work and you don't have to have these national and international platforms at these fantastic artists have start where you are, s

harry belafonte thought american artists could do the same, so he called super agent ken cragin to help jackson to write a song. >> tell me about that. what was the process like writing the song with michael jackson. >> at the beginning, it was no terror at all because we had no deadline. >> so that meant -- >> whenever you can write it, we can write it. it's no problem. >> reporter: they wrote at michael jackson's house, with all of his pets, including a large snake. >> and you're trying to write a song. >> i'm trying to write the lyrics to the song, and i'm screaming. and he's going, he wants to play with you, lionel. anyway, so to make a long story short, we finished the lyrics. >> reporter: meanwhile, ken cragin kept calling more big names to join in, and the project started to snowball. >> next thing i know cragin calls on the phone and says, bruce is in. dylan's in. dillon? you mean bob dylan? what are you talking about? well, ray's coming. ray charles? ray is coming? all of a sudden, we went from just la, la, la to panic. >> reporter: finally, with the song written, they made a p