Common & John Legend Oscar Acceptance Speech
C: Recently, John and I got to go to Selma and perform “Glory” on the same bridge that Dr. King and the people of the civil rights movement marched on. Fifty years ago. This bridge was once a landmark of a divided nation. But now, it’s a symbol for change. The spirit of this bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status. The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from the south side of Chicago – dreaming of a better life – to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression to the people in Hong Kong, protesting for democracy. This bridge was built on hope. Welded with compassion. And elevated with love for all human beings.
J: Nina Simone said “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live.” We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were fifty years ago, but we say that Selma is NOW, because the struggle for justice is right now. We know that the voting rights act that they fought for fifty years ago is being compromised right now, in this country today. We know that right now the struggle for freedom and justice is real. We live in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more black men under correctional control today that were under slavery in 1850. When people are marching with our song, we want to tell you we are with you, we see you, we love you, and march on.
