ACTIVISM HIGH NOTE
Mary J. Blige is the musical star, but Common and Andra Day bring social conscience.
Common and Andra Day’s performance of “Stand Up for Something” was among the most poignant moments of Sunday’s Academy Awards, with the pair joined by nearly a dozen activists.
In recent months the powerful record — lifted from last year’s “Marshall” and up for original song — has taken on a life of its own as a potent anthem of resilience. It has been used as a rallying cry for the gun violence prevention movement and was a cornerstone of the L.A. Women’s March and the People’s State of the Union in New York City and was used to raise awareness on immigration rights.
For the performance at the Dolby Theatre, Day and Common wanted to spotlight 10 individuals working to create change.
“If it’s one thing I learned from being a part of ‘Selma’ is that, an activist is someone who lives their life for what they believe in and works for that cause every day,” Common said in a statement before the show. “The activists we asked to join us on stage are people who have dedicated their lives to making the world better.”
Added Day: “I am truly honored to share the stage with such powerful people. People who work, sacrifice and have fought through their personal pain to make the world a better place.”
Here’s a breakdown of everyone who appeared onstage alongside the performers:
Alice Brown Otter, the 14-yearold who was a prolific voice of the #NoDAPL movement. In summer 2016, she ran 1,519 miles from Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota to the front steps of the Army Corps of Engineers office in Washington to protest construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Patrisse Cullors, queer activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Bana al-Abed, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, who tweeted during the siege of the city in 2016. The now-8-year-old penned a book, “Dear World: A Syrian Girl’s Story of War and Plea for Peace,” about her experience.
Bryan Stevenson, the director of the Equal Justice Initiative and the author of “Just Mercy.”
Cecile Richards, a lifelong activist for women’s rights and social justice, including more than a decade as president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement.
Dolores Huerta, president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She also co-founded the United Farm Workers of America with Cesar Chavez in 1962.
Janet Mock, the New York Times bestselling author of two memoirs, “Redefining Realness” and “Surpassing Certainty,” books that broke ground by centering her journey as a young trans woman.
José Andrés, named Outstanding Chef and Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation. He served more than 3.3 million meals in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria last year, reaching communities in need across all 78 municipalities through 23 kitchens.
Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan Hockley, who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. She is the founder and managing director for Sandy Hook Promise, the national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members who lost loved ones at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.