DC North. "Ward 1 News", P.18, February 2005.

Harry BelafonteThe Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute, a U Street center for martial arts training, will present an award to actor, musician and activist Harry Belafonte in honor of his contributions to both art and society. Belafonte will receive the award from actor Danny Glover at the Lincoln Theater on April 9 to raise money for the Institute.

Deemed the "Here I Stand" award in honor of famed actor and singer Paul Robeson -- whose 1958 autobiography bore that name -- the award will annually recognize an individual who combines artistic excellence with contributions to the community at large. Robeson became one of the most well-known Americans internationally in the 1930s and 40s at the pinnacle of a career that touched many corners of American life: He was an All-American football player at Rutgers University, a graduate of Columbia Law School, an award-winning stage actor and popular singer.Muhammad said Belafonte was a natural selection to be the first recipient because of his success both as an activist and an artist. Born in Harlem, Belafonte became a famed nightclub singer and Broadway performer. His album "Calypso" was the first pop album ever to sell one million copies and included his most famous song "Banana Boat," the lines of which "Daaaay-O" can still be heard on the radio today. Belafonte became an influential civil rights and humanitarian activist, helping to organize the "We are the World" album, accepting a position with the United Nation\'s Children\'s Fund (UNICEF) and speaking out against apartheid in South Africa.

"He never separated his life as an artist from his life as a human being," Muhammad said of Belafonte. "He emphasized the importance of Belafonte and Glover as role models for the community. We believe by doing this we are putting examples of greatness in front of the youth in the community that are much better examples [for children] than many that are pushed out in front by the mass media," Muhammad said.

The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute provides classes on Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Chinese Lion Dancing. Tickets to the awards show are $75 to $125 and are available at the Lincoln Theater by calling TicketMaster at 202.397.7328.

For more information on The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute, call 202.265.1670 or visit www.jowga.org.