Daylight Come

Daylight Come is a comprehensive biography that examines the life of Harry Belafonte, the legendary King of Calypso. This volume 1 account explores how the Harlem-born performer transformed Caribbean folk music into American pop culture, achieving historic success as the first Black movie star and the first Black person to produce a primetime network TV special. Joshua Jelly-Schapiro details Belafonte's rise from humble beginnings to international fame, blending elements of arts and literature with a study of celebrity and authenticity.

The narrative focuses heavily on the intersection of entertainment and politics and social sciences. It documents Belafonte's pivotal role in the civil rights era, highlighting his deep bond with Martin Luther King Jr. and his collaborations with Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro. This work of Black and African American history provides a revealing portrait of an icon whose activism and artistic vision reshaped the American landscape.