In the wake of the one-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, we must encourage our icons to promote movements that support and champion social and economic change, and not just celebrate themselves.
The social reach and gravitas of our celebrities will be the deciding factor of how the next generation sees itself. Beyoncé’s conversation about economics must be a conscious discussion to ensure that the beneficiaries of her success are actually members of her community. The conversation could mirror Mary McLeod Bethune’s “Last Will and Testament,” which shares her vision for our community’s progress. It reads in part, “I leave you love. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you a final responsibility to our young people …”
