Tapping into Martin Luther King, Jr.

When IDEAS spoke with Harry Belafonte for the documentary To Heal a Sick Nation, we realized that the great singer and activist had much more to say about Dr. King, America and the way institutions of power operate. On the occasion of MLK Day, we present his full conversation with Paul Kennedy. ** This episode originally aired January 19, 2015.

At 88, Harry Belafonte remains one of America's most eloquent and impassioned voices for human rights and social justice. IDEAS spoke with him in February 2014 about his close friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for our documentary on Dr. King's 1967 CBC Massey Lectures. Harry Belafonte told us about the expanding scope of Dr. King's work into the areas of peace and poverty near the end of his life. He also spoke of his deep concern and hopes for America.

This episode was researched and prepared by Montreal-based journalist, Stephen Smith.