In 1961, Sammy Davis opened a letter from his friend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King, who thanked Davis for supporting the civil rights movement and praised the growing participation of artists in it. Davis was honored, but he wasn’t the only one who loved King.
Months earlier, Sammy Davis and Maya Angelou wondered, between them, how many artists they could gather for a benefit concert in Dr. King’s name. Given their combined popularity, the answer was “all of them.”
On January 27, 1961, the “Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.” benefit concert was held at Carnegie Hall, and boy, did the stars come out. Sammy Davis performed with the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. Harry Belafonte, Count Basie, Mahalia Jackson, Tony Bennett, and Sydney Poitier were among the other luminaries. The evening was a roaring success.
When it comes to our liberation, art isn’t just for art’s sake. Our talent and creativity can push Black liberation forward because it cultivates community, expresses our culture, and spreads awareness of our fight.