During a private press reception at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, representatives of American Airlines were joined by R&B singer-songwriter John Legend and author-TV producer and travel expert-at-large, Nelson George to unveil the new site and celebrate with an intimate concert by John Legend and The Roots.
Partnering with American Airlines was a suitable match for Legend since the theme of broadening one’s horizons is highlighted on his upcoming collaborative album, Wake Up Sessions.
“This album [of] socially conscious and politically aware songs [is] meant to inspire people, to make them think and entertain them at the same time,” says Legend.
George supported Legend’s initiative by noting that one of the main issues he believes people need to wake up to is the fact that slavery still exists as part of the black experience.
“We talk about eastern European girls [being] sold into slavery, but the same happens to African women. In Spain and Italy you can see them on the corner as indentured servants. These are things I wouldn’t have known about the black experience without travel,” says George.
George also believes that sometimes all you have to do is travel within the U.S. to see that there are many issues we need to wake up to right here at home.
“HIV infections in the black community are still an important issue. People are focused on Africa but right here in Harlem, Brownsville and the Bronx people aren’t protecting themselves. I don’t think there is enough visibility since every generation needs to be re-educated,” he says.
The time to start waking up and re-educating ourselves on a range of sociopolitical issues is now according to George, since he foresees the political climate as becoming increasingly volatile.
“There will be a big election in two years. It’s gonna be wild because you can see what’s going on with the Tea Party. So it’s time to deal with consciousness on many levels,” he advises.
Apparently there is too much at stake in the current state of the world for any of us to sleep this one out. –souleo
