The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show

For one week in February 1968, Johnny Carson gave up his chair to Harry Belafonte, the first time an African-American had hosted a late night TV show for a whole week.

The Sit In explores civil rights activist and actor Harry Belafonte’s stint as guest host on the “Tonight Show” and his impact on the representation Black people had on late night TV. Through limited surviving archive footage; The Sit In shares its effect on American people during a divisive era sharing moments with the likes of Martin Luther King. The Sit In is a remarkable film told through celebrity accounts and the glistening spirit of Harry Belafonte.