Chaka Khan in her tribute video to Trayvon Martin. (Chaka Khan)Chaka Khan has released a new version of her song “Super Life” as a tribute PSA to Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Florida high school student who was killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer last month.
Khan, Loretta Devine, Angela Bassett — joined by her husband Courtney Vance and their two children — and other celebrities appear in the video for “Super Life: Fear Kills, Love Heals” wearing hoodies. Martin was wearing the clothing item at the time of his death and it has now become a way for people — both famous and not — to show solidarity with the teen’s family.
Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who claimed he killed the teen in self defense. Zimmerman has not been arrested, leading to a national outcry. Some of Martin’s supporters believe the killing was racially motivated.
“I am a mother, and I’m also a mother with a voice. It’s time for those of us who have a voice to speak out for life, for love and for justice using the same media we’ve used throughout our careers,” Khan said in a news release. “Now is the time to use media for the benefit of humanity as a whole. . . We have to be the voice for the voiceless, for the Trayvon Martins of this world.”
Bassett said she joined the PSA because of her young son: “You just get sick and tired of this dual reality that you have to teach our children. He should be able to live life fearlessly and with adventure.”
Russell Simmons, director Spike Lee, Mia Farrow and many other celebrities have helped attract national attention to Martin’s death through social media.
Khan’s PSA is accompanied by the Twitter hashtag #fearkillsloveheals. Watch the video below.
Loading...
Comments