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Celebrities and singers of all genres came together for a concert focused on overcoming racial prejudice and injustice. The concert, called Shining A Light: A Concert For Progress on Race in America, will spark an effort “to confront issues of race and promote unity and progress on racial equity.” The concert and related programming will help raise money for United Way Worldwide, an American nonprofit organization.
Bruce Springsteen opened the show
Bruce Springsteen opened the concert with his song “American Skin (41 Shots),” which was written after the 1999 New York police shooting of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant who was shot 41 times. As he sang the lyrics “It ain’t no secret my friend. You can get killed just for living in your American skin,” footage from the funerals of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray flashed on the screen. Springsteen was later joined by singer-songwriter John Legend and guitarist-songwriter Tom Morello were the opening number of the show. As the song went on, the stage lit up and the choir behind them was joined by a dozen of the artists who would later perform in the concert.
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Morgan Freeman gave a speech
Famous actor Morgan Freeman spoke at the event.
“Throughout this nation’s history, from the brutal days of slavery to the long march to civil rights until today, music has been there to help us cross that bloody river to the other side,” he said. “As too many tragic headlines and news stories make painfully clear, music alone cannot heal the wounds so many of us in this great nation still feel, wounds caused by racism and injustice. Tonight, as we mourn the loss of life in Paris, let us rededicate ourselves to helping erase hate and to creating an American where we can all move up together toward justice, community, love, brotherhood, sisterhood and freedom.”
They played decades of music
The songs at the concert came from eight different decades of pop music. Sia sang Jimmy Cliff’s 1975 ballad “Many Rivers to Cross.” Ed Sheeran performed Curtis Mayfield’s 1960s civil rights anthem “People Get Ready.” Pharrell Williams sang “Freedom.” Pink and John Legend did a duet of Donny Hathaway’s 1973 song “Someday We’ll All Be Free.” And there are many more emotional performances!
Nicki Minaj read a Maya Angelou poem
Rapper Nicki Minaj put aside her signature flashy performances and decided to recite a special rendition of Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise.” The piece contains the themes of racism, misogyny, and sexuality. Minaj performed to a cheering audience.
Watch her performance in the video below:
https://youtu.be/MafMxdiXe6I
SEE ALSO: Nicki Minaj Gets The Final Word On Her VMA Feud With Miley Cyrus
