Dr. Ben Chavis on Why Hip-Hop Needs to See ‘Blood Done Sign My Name’

By admin
Feb 09, 2010
5:34 am

Dr. Benjamin Chavis is acivil rights actvist, the President and CEO of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, and the Education Online Services Corporation. Dr. Chavis whom spent a great deal of the 1970’s behind bars due to his actions during the civil rights movement, is now working from behind the camera. He is lending his civil rights experience for the movie “Blood Done Sign My Name.”

Why is it so important for you to share this story?

I think it is important to share this particular story because it’s a true story from my hometown of Oxford, North Carolina. It’s about a very brutal racial murder in the middle of a black community; yet the whites who commited the murder were set free. This is a story about young people rising up and speaking out.

With you being a part of the hip hop summit action network would they play a role in promoting this movie?

Absolutely, throughout the network we are gonna spread the word about “Blood Done Sign My Name.” I think it’s very important for the hip hop generation to see not just moments of the past but see how the past applies to the 21 century.

Was Nate Parker able to pull off a good Dr. Chavis?

When I saw the finished product I was so proud of the job that Nate Parker did. In fact he played me better than me, so I’m very please because it’s a true story but it is also an accurate story.

Can we expect to see your involvement in any more movies?

I’m writing a book right now about “the Wilmington Ten” case, and that is going to be a movie too. I’m so pleased that this has happened and I think timing is very important, in 2010 we can’t let down our guard,we cant take things for granted; we have more opportunity today then ever before

Veteran civil rights activist Dr. Ben Chavis has spent his life fighting racial injustice. Dr. Chavis, the president and CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and the Education Services Online Corporation, is now using film to share the story of a chilling incident of racial hatred that happened in his community 40 years ago in Blood Done Sign My Name.
–christian johnson

Why is it so important for you to share this story?

I think it is important to share this particular story because it’s a true story from my hometown of Oxford, North Carolina. It’s about a very brutal racial murder in the middle of a black community; yet the whites [that] committed the murder were set free. This is a story about young people rising up and speaking out.

Will the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network play a role in promoting this movie?

Absolutely, throughout the Network we are gonna spread the word about Blood Done Sign My Name. I think it’s very important for the hip-hop generation to see, not just moments of the past, but see how the past applies to the 21st century.

Was Nate Parker able to pull off a good Dr. Chavis?

When I saw the finished product, I was so proud of the job that Nate Parker did. In fact, he played me better than me, so I’m very pleased because it’s a true story but it is also an accurate story.