Harry Belafonte: Herman Cain 'A Bad Apple' And 'False' Negro (VIDEO)

The legendary entertainer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte lambasted Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain as a "bad apple" and just the latest false representation of what the extreme right believes are "real Negroes," during a taping of the "Joy Behar Show" on Monday.

Belafonte's criticism for the surging Republican candidate came after Behar asked for his take on Cain's recent comments that racism in this country doesn't hold "anybody back in a big way."

"It's very hard to comment on somebody who is so denied intelligence, and certainly someone who is as denied a view of history," Belafonte said. "Because he happened to have had good fortune hit him, because he happened to have had a moment, when he broke through the moment someone blinked, does not make him the authority on the plight of people of color."

Belafonte continued:

The Republican party, the Tea party, all of those forces to the extreme right have consistently tried to come up with representation for what they call black, what they call the real Negroes and try to push these images as the kinds of voices that America should be [looking] to. So we've got Condoleezza Rice, we've got Colin Powell, they are heroes for some people but for a lot of us they are not. And Herman Cain is just the latest incarnation of what is totally false to the needs of our community and the needs of our nation. I think he’s a bad apple and people should look at his whole card, he’s not what he says he is.

Cain has made waves with some of his recent comments. First he called black voters "brainwashed" and then denied racism as a factor in black lives. He has drawn the ire of the likes of actor Morgan Freeman and now Belafonte, among others.

Cain's salvo continued this week with an attack on Barack Obama's experience in black America.
The former pizza CEO took to the airwaves during a radio show and said that an election between he and Obama would be "no contest," and that next to him, Obama would be at a deficit when addressing black America.

"[Obama's] never been a part of the black experience in America," Cain said.

Comments

[Sistagirl Young]

07:20 PM on 10/22/2011

I'm gonna out on a limb. So don't none of y'all bring no chain saws. Okay? As a drop dead gorgeous woman of color(hey, these eyes don't lie) I feel sorry for the Brotha. I claim him as a Brotha because he "is" a man of color. But the Brotha got some serious issues. Truly. Self-loathin'? How do you loathe that which is you. Oh sure, he can pretend. But how sad is that. He represents everything that is abhorrent to people of color. When the GOP and Tea Baggers kick him to the curb, and they will. Then what will he do? I don't care how folk feel 'bout me. I tell 'em it's cool. I loves me enough for everybody. Herman Cain the new Minstrel show. I guess this makes him proud. I don't know. I do know there is a difference between folk laughin' with ya and folk laughin' at ya. Brother Herman is of the latter. But he brought it on himself. It still saddens me that a man of color could still be self-loathin'. I guess his Dad thoroughly "brain-washed" him. Po' chil'. Life.

[aguadecoco]

12:27 PM on 11/05/2011

There have been other who fit Cain's posturing~I agree they will kick him hard too, the curve. Look at Thomas, no one listens to him period~ it will be the same for him, off too a corner with a dench hat on~that is how they will treat him. Since he went to Moorehouse, I guess he'll still be welcomed there. Or, he will be an example of what not too be orr do as a man, period~

[Sistagirl Young]

12:44 PM on 11/05/2011

Hello aguadecoco; I think it horrifically tragic when as a person of color you cannot find somethin' to love about yourself. But Citizen Cain seems to have found his niche. As the Brotha by anotha Motha to the Koch brothers. If that don't give ya a reason for livin' I don't know what will. Po' soul. GOD is good though. He's watched over this far it don't seem likely HE'll stop now-watchin' ova Citizen Cain I mean. The chil' ain't all there in my opinion. But hey, ain't nobody ever accused me of bein' all there either. Be's that way sometimes. Huh? Thanks for replyin'. Life.

[3daywkend]

06:18 PM on 10/22/2011

Black America has this philosophy that all blacks must rise together or fall together. Mr. Cain decided he'd go off and be successful, and for this he's called a Tom. He refuses to be a loyal victim.

[Sistagirl Young]

07:39 PM on 10/22/2011

Hi 3daywkend; I am not denyin' Mr. Cain's accomplishments. I think he's to be commended, however they came about. I think most people have a resentment against his holier than thou attitude and his air of superiority. The man is obviously delusional. He should know how the GOP and Tea Baggers feel about MY President Obama. Anotha man of color. Oops, I forget. Mr. Cain is a man of color but he definitely ain't black. But is he in for a decidedly rude awakenin'. Ain't nobody kiss him to wake him up either. There'll be use of the n-word and get to gettin. Life.

[gussom]

12:49 PM on 10/23/2011

Why do you believe that? Many people black and white help each other they are called Democrats as opposed to republicans who prefer to help themselves, at the expense of others and then blame those others.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

07:12 PM on 10/20/2011

Could not have said it better myself

[wwhitfie81]

06:08 PM on 10/20/2011

Harry makes me smile. He's just a really cool guy, and he sings well too! "Daylight come and me wan' go home." He's definitely legendary and he dropped some good knowledge on Herman Cain too. Having Harry doubt you is no bueno. May you continue to live a full life Mr. Belafonte!

[Niasia]

04:11 PM on 10/20/2011

Poor poor Herman, he doesn't even see that they are using him. I am willing to bet though, that Herman knows he has no chance in heck and is using the publicity for his book tour. I mean he is using the campaigns funds for it and all. Such slicksters those republicans.

[meeks]

07:51 AM on 10/18/2011

Great points Mr. Belafonte !!! Could not have said it better myself.

[lotus321]

09:49 AM on 10/20/2011

What gives Mr banana boat the right to speak poorly about Cain. He is as much a black man as Harry.

[livefortruth]

11:58 AM on 10/21/2011

'“What gives Mr banana boat the right to speak poorly about Cain. He is as much a black man as Harry.”

Every right. All of his rights.

What is it that YOU are suggesting?

[Sistagirl Young]

07:24 PM on 10/22/2011

Hi lotus321; You know Herman is black, Mr. Belafonte knows Mr. Cain is black, I know Mr. Cain is black. Mr. Cain does not "know" he is black. That's the difference. Life.

[mszksg]

09:05 PM on 10/17/2011

I heart Black Voices.

[gregmilton]

01:18 AM on 10/17/2011

Overheard at a Harry Belafonte concert at Carnegie Hall, "Whenever he was Abel he was raising Cain".

[Assumed Name]

08:06 PM on 10/16/2011

Belafonte didn't say that Cain was a "false negro". (Another stupid HuffPo headline. :b )

Regardless, Belafonte rocks!! :o)

[Joseph Schmoe]

05:30 AM on 10/16/2011

Cain isn't a false negro. He's just a person. If you can't attack his ideas and have to create some faux membership policy based on race then you have the problem. He's not a guy who would ever get my vote, but that has nothing to do with Sheriff Belafonte's race membership rules.

[PatA]

01:14 PM on 10/16/2011

Cain has injected racism into many of his statements and if another black person wants to call him out on it, so be it. I bet you aren't black. I'm not.

Cain started it and Belafonte, and every other voter, 'has a dog in this fight' and we totally have the right to challenge what he says. Whether it be about blacks or the drought.

[Joehater]

01:57 PM on 10/16/2011

You are so very right. Cain has really said what many white has wanted to say, but said behind closed doors. He is a turncoat who never has never left the plant_ation.

[Vee73]

10:29 AM on 10/18/2011

Thank You PatA. I am black and as you said, Cain is the one who brought up race. He had no right to do so. He is *one* individual. He is entitled to his opinions but in an effort to be liked and accepted by his white/Republican counterparts, he bad-mouthed black democrats and tried to "explain" the mindset of all black Americans. He was wrong for that, I have zero respect for him, and TONS for Mr. Belafonte.

[dclintn648]

01:37 PM on 10/16/2011

Cain is a black man who got very lucky in America, and now wants to assert that others who haven't had his luck are simply inferior. When you take that kind of outrageous position, you deserve everything you get.

[Frank Bourne]

06:16 PM on 10/21/2011

Cain has degrees in both mathematics and computer science. He put himself into a position to get "very lucky." When opportunity presented itself, he was ready. That's how it works, you see?

[Rogell]

11:11 PM on 10/15/2011

If anyone hasn't been part of the black experience I would, without any reservation, say that Herman Cain fits that mold to a tee. Either that, or he's in denial or "brainwashed," into thinking he's a white man. Someone must have lied to him, because he isn't black...

[rchristene]

07:59 PM on 10/16/2011

F & F !!

[amd02148]

03:41 PM on 10/17/2011

Fanned/faved Rogell

[Vimentin]

12:56 PM on 10/15/2011

Thanks for the information, OBAMA 2012

[Joseph Scott]

04:59 PM on 10/15/2011

hahaha.
too smooth.

[Joehater]

02:04 PM on 10/16/2011

Ditto! Obama 2012!

[Rogell]

11:12 PM on 10/15/2011

Your facts are incorrect and you need to pay more attention to historical facts in lieu of fiction...

[Laws456]

10:00 AM on 10/15/2011

Of course you'd say that. You miss the point entirely but I suppose you don't really want to get to the core of Mr. Belafonte's criticism. Maybe one day you'll wake up. But then again you probably won't because you find ignorance to be blissful.

[SME131]

01:14 PM on 10/15/2011

Well said.

[Vimentin]

12:57 PM on 10/15/2011

He is a Boy!

[Laws456]

10:07 AM on 10/15/2011

You are foolish and incorrect in your assessment. You assume Cain will become the GOP nominee. LMAO at that thought. This party is racist at its core and while theymay love Cain, theh dislike every other Black on the other side of the political divide. Just look at how the Gop never tries to speak to the Black community. But as soon as they find a black guy who is ignorant enough to say inequality doesn't exist, he automatically becomes their g Blackwell, Keyes, Steele, and now

[amd02148]

03:43 PM on 10/15/2011

The GOP has so much respect for him they can't even get his name right. Do you honestly think "Herb" is getting the nomination from the GOP?

[PatA]

01:20 PM on 10/16/2011

Read my post above about Tea-baggers having the patent on racism. Dream on.

[BigL67]

04:03 PM on 10/16/2011

Though I don't doubt that the Tea Party is has it's share of bigots racism requires power. Therefore most of the Tea Party members don't qualify as racists. Bigots perhaps but not racists. Don't know if you know this but the Tea Party formed in responds the increase taxation of citizen and the increasing growth of government. They have modeled themselves after the colonial Americans that threw the imported British tea into the Boston harbor in protest of the overtaxation from the King of England. Now I agree one could argue why didn't the Tea Party form in responds to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security by the Bush Administration where we have seen small children and the elderly frisked as if they were potential terrorist. Among Republicans that was their great issue with the Bush administration that seen the most government growth since the FDR administration.

[victorvelasco]

11:45 PM on 10/14/2011

The word "real", when spoken by the likes of Herman Cain- or for that matter, by anyone - as it pertains to the amount of whatever tangible or intangible elements that makes an individual the ultimate representation of a group, is the most disingenuous four letter word.

[sillyfrog]

04:53 PM on 10/18/2011

Like made with real cheese what ever that means.