it's hard to put just one label on harry belafonte.s broken through social and racial barriers in every aspect of his work, and fought tirelessly for civil rights, justice and equality around the world. now, at 84, he's releasing his autobiography called "my song." next monday hbo will premiere a new documentary about his life called "sing your song." i recently sat down with him to talk protests, the president and the future of america. >> it is indeed an honor for me to have on the show one of the men i most admire, harry belafonte. >> it is great to be with you, reverend, in your new incarnation. you wear it well. >> since you brought me through several of my incarnations. let me start by talking about the book and the documentary. you say in your book that you learned -- let me put up this quote, i see the little boy i was in all his complexities, angry and hurt, almost always alone, yet why this little boy among all others should use his anger to push himself up, make a name for himself. what do you think it was that pushed you, m

and harry belafonte. ♪ >> like you have rarely seen him on race and politics.o you think america is more or less racist since the inauguration of the first black president? >> i think what barack obama is going through the race. >> michael jackson. >> i watched him transform himself from the child he was to the figure he became. all those facelifts and distortions. i found it to be a very sad, sad journey. >> this is "piers morgan tonight." >>> good evening, we start with breaking news tonight. a live shot from downtown new york. the clock is ticking. a potential confrontation of the group occupy wall street. they have to clear out by 7:00 tomorrow morning to clean up. they say it's an excuse to get them out. the united autoworkers union is going to show up. my next guest knows more about this than anybody else and why they are so fired up. it's michael lewis. what do you make of all this occupy wall street? are they right? do you know what they are protesting about? do they know what they are protesting about? >> nobody put a fine point on it but it's not hard

please welcome harry belafonte. (cheers and applause) pleasure to meet you.t a pleasure to have you on. >> what a pleasure to be on. >> stephen: now sir. >> at last, to be on stephen colbert. i can't believe it. (cheers and applause) >> stephen: would you like a moment to sink me in. >> yes. >> stephen: now you're an artist and an activist. your 1956 album calypso made you the first artist to sell over a million albums. okay, you've got a tony, emmy, national medal of arts. you were advisor to the peace corps, a unicef goodwill ambassador, a leader of the civil rights and anti-appear-- movement and your new book is called harry belafonte, my song. (cheers and applause) first of all, can we get a shot of that, who is-- i got to know, who is your lighting guy because i want him to follow me around wherever i go. that is a fantastic look. you knew everyone, like this book is full of stories of you and martin luther king, sinatra, jfk, rfk. how did you have your fingers in so many other pies. how did you-- what was your connection to all these people? >> i just h

harry belafonte.pplause) we'll be right back. >> that's it for the report, everybody. oh, good morning, dr. baird. good morning, regular person lemon.

harry belafonte.rs and applause) >> stephen: we'll be right >> stephen: that's i i >> okay. now, you're all here because you've been

how many times do we listen to harry belafonte make these kind of comments?y but it is also not representative of the group. >> and being a black conservative myself, that's what liberals do. >> who? >> who besides those two. >>>. >> maxine waters made comments. we've had other congressional black caucus members say we hang black people at the tea parties. talk about the issues and not people. >> herman cain is a business guy, a cancer survivor. he's a true patriot and it's awful for people to treat him so badly. it's got to stop. >> and even tonight, he's no holds barred. it's a good point because a lot of people get to the top tier and they are surrounded by advisors that say slow down >> change what you have been doing to get to the top tier. he's not changing, bob, and his message is resonating with people in this country. >> i spent a lot of time with herman cain here and other places. >> you like him. >> i like him. i think he's smart, funny, he has this 9-9-9 thing that haunts me. i can get it in my brand. but he had enough sense forks on that one when

i don't think that harry belafonte is a racist because he says herman cain is a bad apple. i think race is being used in this instance all around the table to repress differences of opinion. when race issues to repress dissent, it is wrong on all sides of the table. look, herman cain as a republican, heetds conservative. he believes he has a prescription for growing the economy, creating jobs and providing opportunity for all americans, inclusive of black americans. >> when it comes to -- >> i think the name -- john, john, i think name calling has gone too far. >> you are saying name calling has gone too far. we have known each other a long time and your involvement in ohio politics including being the secretary of state. you are among the african-american republicans trying to build support in the african-americanommunity. is the language helpful to that effort to have more blacks join the republican party or hurtful? >> i think mr. cain's prescription for growing the economy is helpful. i think when he says that folks

harry belafonte, thank you for your life. thank you for your book.ure. >> the book is called "my song." the hbo documentary called "sing your song" premieres on monday night. >>> still ahead this morning the health habits that could actually do you more harm than good. but first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ love it. >>> just ahead today's professionals. these stories of the day including one that touched a nerve with ann. >> no kidding. but first these messages and your local news. >> live, local, late-breaking - this wbal-tv 11 news in baltimore. >> good morning, the time is 8:56. here is a look at one of our top stories. maryland state police have issued an amber alert for a 11- year-old boy from montgomery county. he was last seen near briarcliff road in germantown for it in a riding -- he may be riding in riding -- he may be riding in mayblack honda crv, ca complete this merger, and present to the board, sink your teeth into some big n' toasty if you understand. good. you've got spunk. a big day calls for the big n' toasty. wrap your hands around f

it came time for him to talk to the morning news team at kbak in bakersfield, california. >> harry belafontehis morning from new york. hey, good morning, harry. harry, wake up. harry? >> yeah. >> wake up, wake up. >> i can't hear anything. >> this is your wake-up call, harry. >> there's nothing -- >> okay. >> okay. um. indeed. this is a classic journalistic dilemma. it's early in the morning. the celebrity you're about to deliver is all miked up. you have all your questions ready. but he's fast asleep. what is an eyewitness news team to do. >> i've been doing this for quite some time now. i have never seen that. >> he was -- come on. >> let's just say this. that the way this works is they do a lot of interviews all at once -- the early morning, a lot of them -- and perhaps, obviously, if he could hear us he wouldn't have been -- >> i don't think harry could hear us. >> see, in the business we like to call this technique stretching. basically, just keep talking until the thing that was supposed to happen actually happens. it's a good technique. sadly, it does not always work. >> was he in his

couldn't keep his eyes open for a live interview. >> harry belafonte joining us live this morning from new york. hey, good morning, harry. harry, wake up. harry? >> yeah. >> wake up, wake up. >> he can't hear anything. >> this is your wakeup call, harry. >> nothing. >> okay. i tell you what, we are going -- yeah, he's meditating. he's taking a little nap. he's okay. he is okay. >> oh, man. i was kind of hoping he was still alive the way he looked. >> he's fine. belafonte says he wasn't sleeping. we believe him. we'll be back. >> that's what's ahead tonight. tomorrow morning get a head start on your day with andrea. they give you your 9 news now traffic and weather at 5:00 a.m. next your entertainment news. make sure to join topper and me tonight at 11:00 for 9 news now. we will see you then. have a great evening. bye-bye. >>> now, "entertainment tonight," the most watched entertainment newsmagazine in the world. how much do the "dancing" stars weigh? >> richard simmons is back for "e.t." with his scale. >> richard simmons travels with a scale. the pounds are coming off and i'm going to

at the wrong watch as a news anchor tries to interview harry belafonte. ((:04 harry belafonte joining--happened at a station in bakersfield california--- harry belaaonte proootingghis new book --father showing son how --didn't expeet that rraccion. reactiin. ((do you want me to showwyoo how to play angry birds?...screaming... ok!) ok!))((áááad libááá)) 3 this is something you don't see every day... island.--- cow escaped from a slauggterhouse.-- police round him up.---they unfortunatelyy had to euthanize it. 3 from a cow... to a bear... it seems yogi bearrneeded a little something for his picnic basket. basket. small bear cub somehow made -- - its way innide a grocery store... and decided to sampll some fresh fruit. ---a bravv custommr managed to graa it... and bring im outside. 3 meteorologist steve fertig will be back wiih a look at your 7 ay forecast. you're watthing fox 3 3 we are continuing to follow breaking news... out of libya. arab t-v is reporting that dead.while e have yet to ar - knnw that nato said its e do aircraft struck two pro- gadhafi milittrr vehicces in thh sirte v

. >>> now, to the new viral video, unwittingly starring harry belafonte. the singer, actor and activist, was smanything but active in th one. >> he was making morning rounds on morning tv to promote his new memoir. but apparently the singer was a bit sleepy. >> harry belafonte, joining us live from new york. good morning, harry. harry, wake up. harry? wake up. wake up. this is your wake-up call, harry. >> daylight coming and i am not going to wake up. belafonte's rep says he was just resting his eyes. the audio was not in his ear. so, he did not hear the anchor. can't blame him. >>> folks in alaska, probably a little more used to seeing wildlife than many of us. but maybe not so in the grocery store. >> this brown bear cub got in the store and made his way to the produce. he didn't stop and have anything to eat. >> a store employee grabbed him and put him outside. presumably out to momma bare. and that produce, thousands of dollars worth, was thrown out. all that food. >> it was a waste of food. he didn't touch anything. >> a little cub dirt on your lettuc

>> harry belafonte gave a great

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harry belafonte, thank you for your life. thank you for your book. >> the book is called "my song." the hbo documentary called "sing your song" premieres on monday night. >>> still ahead this morning the health habits that could actually do you more harm than good. but first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ nbc. ♪ love it. complete this merger, and present to the board, sink your teeth into some big n' toasty if you understand. good. you've got spunk. a big day calls for the big n' toasty. wrap your hands around fried eggs, cherrywood smoked bacon, and cheese on texas toast. america runs on dunkin'. >>> just ahead today's professionals. these stories of the day including one that touched a nerve with ann. >> no kidding. but first these messages and your local news. nerve with ann, coed dorms. >> first your local news. >>> good morning. 8:56, i am pat lawson. there is breaking news this morning. there is an amber alert out for an 11-year-old germantown boy. police say somebody killed his mother and investigators found her body in her apartment yesterday. wi

harry belafonte has a new book out so he's making the media rounds. >> harry belafonte joining me live new york this morning. good morning. harry, wake up. good morning. harry? >> wake up, wake up. this is your wake up call, harry. >> there's nothing. >> okay. i'll tell you what. we are going -- he's med tating. he's taking a little nap. >> mr. belafonte again 84. i'm not going 0 cal to call hima pinhead. his spokesman said it was take cal glitch and harry couldn't here and harrie harry was med t. wake up, harry. that's it for us tonight. please check out the fox news factor website. also, we'd like you to spout off. e-mail me, name and town, name and town, name and town. word of the day. do not be out harried when writing to the factor. 1895, i found a dictionary from 1985. do not be out-her yood when wrig to the factor. i am bill o'reilly. please remember the spin stops right here because we're definitely looking out for you. >> good morning, everyone. it's wednesday, october 19th. i'm gretchen carlson. thanks for sharing your time with us bright and early this morning. we'll talk ab

. >>> just ahead, the legendary singer and activist harry belafonte, and his memories of the civil rightsement and marching with martin luther king. stay with us. the postal service is critical to our economy-- delivering mail, medicine and packages. yet they're closing thousands of offices, slashing service, and want to lay off over 100,000 workers. the postal service is recording financial losses, but not for reasons you might think. the problem ? a burden no other agency or company bears. a 2006 law that drains 5 billion a year from post-office revenue while the postal service is forced to overpay billions more into federal accounts. congress created this problem, and congress can fix it. >>> this weekend, the president will dedicate the martin luther king memorial, but dr. king must be more than a memory. what he stood for we need now more than ever. martin luther king iii and i will talk about that in a moment. s amounts. only one calcium supplement does that in one daily dose. citracal slow release... continuously releases calcium plus d for the efficient absorption my body needs. c

as far as harry belafonte came in, i left the democrat plantation a long time ago. all they try to do when someone like me and i'm not the only black person out there that shares these conservative views, the only tactic they have to try to intimidate me and shut me up is to call me names and this sort of thing. it simply won't work. >> mr. cain proving he is still his abc of identity revealed in his book. american first, black second and conservative third. msnbc contributor and editor along with politics and throughs week and the daily beast. before we get to the topics, chris christie endorsing mitt romney. how big of a boost do you think that is? >> it shows that the establishment that north eastern republicans are dyinging and they are all consolidating behind romney. it's the natural endorsement for christie. he presides over . >> the establishment candidate is predictable. >> they are both from the northeast and romney is the wall street establishment guy and this is setting up to be the establishment versus the base and christie is on the establishment edge.

she just went to go to a movie with harry belafonte and she says, here is a list of people who can help the. here are the keys to the apartment. learn to drive. here i was in hollywood by myself, street smart. i actually wrote about those days because we lived in kind of an apartment like melrose place. everyone was around the pool. they were pumping gas and driving cars. that gave me a great insight. then i wrote the book that put me on the map in america. of course, the one before that was the 10th best selling. tavis: did you ever attempt to do that? did you get pulled into the acting world? >> i did have some things in hollywood. i would do some bikini sheets in the park and and at some kind of cheesy photographer. i would go to get the pictures. the landlady said, i'm sorry, he is not here, he has been arrested. he is a serial killer. crazy things like that would happen to me. i went back to england after a year. i was in a few movies as a teenager but i always considered myself and out of work writer who was gaining experience. that is what makes a strong woman. you have to have c

. >> harry belafonte says he was not asleep when he was supposed to do a live interview with a bakersfield television station last week. >> good morning, harry. [ pause ] >> harry, wake up. [ pause ] >> harry? >> yeah. >> wake up, wake up! >> a spokesman for mr. belafonte says because of a technical glitch, the singer couldn't hear the anchorwoman. he says belafonte decided just to rest his eyes and meditate but we know better, roberta, because daylight came and he want to go home. >> he was snoozing! very good. >> i worked mornings for 17 years. i completely understand because that can happen to just about any of us! i'm sure it has at one point or another. good evening, everyone. have you felt the difference with the cooldown? this is ocean beach where we have the return of the stratus commonly referred to as marine layer and what's so special about this deck of low clouds and fog, it's 1800 feet deep. and because of that, we have a cooldown. san francisco is 28 degrees cooler than yesterday at this hour. inland where we have bright sunshine, it is at least 21 degrees warmer. now, to be

. >>> and legendary actor/singer and civil rights activist harry belafonte shares memories with ann. >>> keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one.

harry belafonte got famous in the '60s for singing "day o" why does he got to call out another brother? >> it's a very catchy song. >> it's about counting bananas, jon. >> jon: so what's next? >> well, then a tarantula gets into the bananas and he's waiting if for tally man. >> jon: no, not in the song. what is the next part about revoking herman cain's black card? >> right, guilt by association. >> the republican party, the tea party, all those forces to the extreme right have consistently tried to come up with representation for what they call "black." we got colon pow l. herman cain is just the latest incarnation. >> so he's saying colin powell is not a black hero. >> of course not, silly. he's a republican. [cheering and applause] >> jon: so this is what... this is what black liberals do to black conservatives? >> oh, no, no, no. it goes both ways. herman cain is doing it, too. >> how would you fare on a staining you and barack obama in a debate? >> it would almost be no contest. he's never been a part of the black experience in america. i can talk about that. i can talk about what