February 25, 2015
The
Portland Observer Black
History Month
Arts &
Page 13
Entertainment
‘Glory’ from ‘Selma’ Movie Wins Oscar
Song and bridge
take center state
(AP) - The Edmund Pettus
Bridge stood center stage in both
the performance and acceptance
speeches by John Legend and
Common for their Oscar-winning
song "Glory" from the film
"Selma".
The site where some 600 civil
rights protesters were first at-
tacked by law enforcement as they
left Selma, Alabama 50 years ago
to march and returned in larger
numbers led by Martin Luther
King Jr. to journey to Montgom-
ery, Alabama, was visually recre-
ated onstage Sunday with a cho-
rus marching through it.
"This bridge was once a land-
mark of a divided nation but is
now a symbol for change," Com-
mon said while accepting the
award. "This bridge was built on
hope, welded with compassion."
The award was given to com-
posers Legend and Common un-
der their legal names, John
"When you think about equal-
ity and freedom and justice, we've
got more work to do," he said.
Common, who also had an act-
ing role in the film based on the
historic 1965 march, said it was
their duty to speak out, given the
stage and setting of the Oscars.
"How could you not say any-
thing, especially representing a
film like 'Selma'," he said.
Tears covered the face of actor
David Oyelowo who starred in
"Selma" as Martin Luther King Jr.
and stood with the rest of the
crowd for a standing ovation after
the pair's performance.
Common credited Oyelowo with
ensuring "Selma" was made by get-
ting director Ava DuVernay on
board and involving Oprah. The
singer said he had called up Legend
Common and John Legend (right) accept the Oscar for Best Original Song for ‘Glory,’ the soundtrack
while he was on tour in London
for the Oscar nominated movie ‘Selma,’ at Sunday’s Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
inquiring about collaborating.
right now."
men.
Stephens and Lonnie Lynn.
"That word really inspired me,"
Legend cited voting rights and
Backstage, he said there was Legend said of "Glory". "The song
"Nina Simone said it's an artist's
duty to reflect the times they live," the incarceration rates of black still a lot to be done.
should sound triumphant."
Legend said, referring to the
singer and activist. "Selma is now
because the struggle for justice is
We Need a Revolution
continued
from page 11
Crews, who is a creative educa-
tor at a local school, and who
empowers youth with hip hop and
all other creative progressive
stuff, he’s let me do all kinds of
amazing stuff. We’ve done work-
shops on healthy food and medi-
tation, gotten kids into running.
I love doing that. And this visit,
I’m very excited for an African
ancestry project that I’ve been
invited to. It’s Friday night at
OMSI, and is open to anyone in-
terested in learning more about
African ancestry. I took a DNA
test with this organization re-
cently and they’ll be analysing
the results at this event. I’m very
excited.
Portland Observer: That sounds
very interesting – is there any last
message you want to send out to
fans?
Stic.man: People should know
what we are coming with isn’t just
a message of black empowerment
and solidarity but also a message
of wellness and health as human
beings, because health changes
communities. It’s a transforma-
tional aspect of what I do as an
activist and a human being. I be-
came a vegan and a certified long
distance running couch. We are
not just protestors, anti-this or that.
We are pro our own things as well,
pro-health. We bring holistic
health, well-rounded wellbeing.
That is the shift in consciousness
our last album, Informative Age,
made from our first album, Let’s Get
Free. It’s the difference about what
we want, what are we for, where are
we going, what do we need, versus
what is against us. As artists we get
to make this our life, our music. We
have to make that case in the minds
and hearts of the community.
Dead prez performs at 9 p.m. Sat-
urday at Mississippi Studios, 3939
N. Mississippi Ave. Doors open at
8 p.m. Opening acts include Mic
Capes and Zakee El. Tickets are $28
and can be purchased at
mississippistudios.com.
Stic.man will also be at OMSI as
guest speaker for their Genetics
Lecture: Who Are You? What is
Your In Your DNA? with keynote
speaker Gina Paige, co-founder and
president of African Ancestry Inc.,
along with a special performance by
the Sébé Kan West African Dance
Ensemble. The 7 p.m. event in the
OMSI auditorium will be free and
open to all ages.