Harry Belafonte Says Jay-Z and Beyoncé 'Turned Their Back on Social Responsibility'

Social activist, singer and actor Harry Belafonte says he’s not happy with the image of minorities in Hollywood today. 

“They have not told the history of our people, nothing of who we are,” the 85-year-old said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.  

“I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities, but they have turned their back on social responsibility,” he said. “That goes for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking.”

Belafonte went on to say that under the Obama administration we still have laws that encourage torture. “What we did during the Bush period, what we still continue to do, even with Barack Obama, is the continuency of not changing the paradigm, of not changing the view,” he said. “We did not change Guantanamo, we have laws that allow the police to arrest you at any time, not having to tell you why, and take you wherever they want.”

Belafonte was recently honored with the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.