“If life can have an ending, all things can have an ending. Systemic racism can have an ending. Police brutality can have an ending. Economic repression of black and brown people can have an ending… A movement without action is a movement standing still” said Wonder. Anika Anjume Khan reports.
On Tuesday, Stevie Wonder posted an empathetic and impatient video on Twitter urging actions on the BLM movement. He has openly talked about the racial tensions in the USA and the failing of the nation under the governance of Donald Trump.
He began by reflecting on what is known as ‘Juneteenth’, an American national holiday that celebrates the emancipation of slavery in the United States.
Wonder said: “This past Friday many of us celebrated Juneteenth, I did. And yet, so many others didn’t and haven’t. As a matter of fact, there are three states that still do not recognize it: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Hawaii. How did it feel to celebrate freedom that we’re still fighting for? It felt, and feels, too familiar.”
The short video, titled “The Universe is Watching Us,” was posted to Wonder’s Twitter account and his other social media channels where he addresses immediate actions to be take the BLM movement forward.
He said: “To those who say they care: Move more than your mouth. Move your feet to the polls, and use your hands to vote.”
He concluded by saying: “Black lives do matter. And this is not another digital viral trend moment or hash tag. It is our lives, literally. Yes, all lives do matter. But they only matter when black lives matter, too. You know it’s a sad day when I can see well than your 2020 vision. The universe is watching us…. I’m talking about you, I’m talking about me, and I’m talking about every single body.”
Watch the video below.
