Harry Belafonte Defends Nate Parker: Why is this old rape case coming out now?

Harry Belafonte, Nate Parker

Harry Belafonte (89) is defending the recent controversy surrounding Nate Parker, explaining that he believes it’s unfair that Parker’s film “The Birth of a Nation” is being overshadowed by a 17-year-old rape case. The iconic activist does add that he’s not clear about the facts and wants to look more into the story. During a recent interview, he praises the film and calls Parker,

a very bright young man.

When discussing the rape case, he says

I don’t even know what the facts are. I don’t know what the truth is.

However, he like some, question why the old case is now making headlines.

It’s interesting because it’s coming out the same time the film’s coming out. Of all the stories you can tell, why are you telling this story? And if he was somebody who had committed a crime and got away with it, but he faced the justice system.

Harry Belafonte

He continues,

The fact that (the system) may have screwed up, the fact that it didn’t really take care of justice, the fact that he should have been punished or whatever is history. The fact is that he was confronted and then he did go through the process. Why are you bringing this up now? What has he done that requires this kind of animus?

Belafonte asks,

How do I put it in a perspective that helps me with greater clarity understand why this is the consequence of something he’s done by getting this high profile, ’cause this film is touching a lot of consciousness. Why isn’t that the story?.

Nate Parker

He says,

And is this going to be the price that young black women and men pay for making films of substance? Are they going to dig in and get dirt instead of fruit? What are we doing here? And where is the voice that defends him if he in fact is worthy of defending?

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