*Head over to our @Essence_Debates Twitter page today at 12:30PM EST to join our conversation with special guest, Anthony Hamilton!*Anthony Hamilton is using his voice to speak out about the importance of the 2018 midterm elections and he’s doing so through a timely new song and music video.
Titled “Love Conquers All,” the powerful single hears Hamilton touch on an array of important issues facing Black and Brown communities and the country as a whole, while urging everyone to use their own voices as a vehicle for real change.
“Love Conquers All” tackles tough, uncomfortable subjects like gun control, criminal justice reform, and prioritizing education,” Hamilton tells ESSENCE. “An artist has two choices. Stay quiet, or use your voice.”
Speaking specifically on gun control, the Grammy Award-winning musician makes it clear that more important than a complete ban on guns is putting leaders in place who will work to make sure weapons meant for combat don’t make their way into places like schools and places of worship.
“Just last week, another place of worship was the target of bigotry and hate in a Pittsburgh synagogue,” he says. “We can’t stay quiet and allow fear to paralyze us. Despite feeling overwhelmed and powerless when hate breaks out, we can do something. We can get up and vote for candidates who believe in gun reform. It’s not about taking away the right to bear arms. It’s about making sure that assault rifles that are meant for war don’t end up in churches and schools.”
When it comes to criminal justice reform and the mass incarceration epidemic that has devastated Black families for decades, Hamilton believes that the for-profit prison industry is at the root of the problem.
“Too many Black and Brown people are in prison because prison is big business,” he adds. “And when they get out, there’s nothing to look forward to but feeling hopeless and helpless. It’s like society looks over them and jobs are hard to come by, leaving many families to suffer. We need to vote for candidates who are against for-profit prisons. They exploit these people for corporate gain and financial power. That’s not cool. Our system makes it to re enter general society and the chance to be productive again. Then it’s back to crime and the the cycle continues. So please do the research vote for change.”
A proud father and advocate for education, Hamilton is as passionate about the need to improve resources for teachers and prioritize education as a whole, as he is about his music.
“Teachers play an incredible role in shaping every kid’s life. Along with family, teachers help mold our babies—helping them become the best they can be,” Hamilton says. “They should be cherished. I get mad when I hear about teachers who struggle to meet their basic needs. It should make us all angry that a huge percentage of educators use their own money to buy supplies when they are already underpaid. We need elected officials who believe that education is a huge priority.”
Check out the exclusive premiere of the music video for “Love Conquers All,” above.
