Music legend Stevie Wonder is an artist who has been using his platform to speak out against social injustices in the Black community for over 50 years and he made a compelling gesture as a show of solidarity with many in the country during yesterday’s Global Citizen Festival.
Taking the stage before a massive crowd of thousands who gathered in New York City’s Central Park to attend the free event, the same extraordinary entertainer who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took a moment to publicly support the fight against social injustice against Black communities with one small but powerful gesture.
“Whenever you need to interrupt hate, stand down bigotry, condemn sexism and find love for all of our global brothers and sisters everyday,” he said to the audience just before beginning his performance on Saturday night. “Tonight, I’m taking a knee for America. But not just one knee, I’m taking both knees. Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world.”
Stevie went on to deliver an unforgettable set, keeping the crowd dancing with several fan-favorites from his catalogue including “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “I Just Called To Say I Love You” and “Superstition.” The performance also included appearances from several of his children and closed out with a guest appearance from Pharrell Williams.
Though fitting in any setting, Stevie’s incredible show of support was particularly timely during yesterday’s Global Citizen Festival, as it came on the heels of President Donald Trump calling for NFL owners to fire players who take a knee during the national anthem. The annual Festival is a philanthropic event which aims to educate and raise funds towards ending several epidemics currently plaguing the world, including HIV/AIDS, extreme poverty and educational disparities among women and girls.