Common has taken on yet another charitable effort. The rapper, who has used his platform to raise awareness for issues like animal rights, HIV/AIDS, underprivileged children and gun control is now focusing his efforts on preventing blindness.
According to multiple outlets, the rapper and actor recently teamed up with See America, Allergan’s initiative surrounding preventable blindness in the United States. Together, Common and Allergan have produced a new PSA, titled “Stand in the Way of Darkness,” with the hope of spreading the word about the 61 million Americans currently at risk of severe vision loss.
“I was inspired to get involved because it’s about raising awareness, and blindness is an issue that Americans are dealing with that we don’t really think about,” Common told People of the campaign.
“It’s one of those things that until it’s happening to you, you don’t think about it,” he added. “But learning how to prevent these things by being aware and taking care of ourselves is what inspired me to get involved.”
As for what influenced Common’s decision to sign on, he explained, “I look for things to do in life where I can help people, and looking at See America, the awareness that they’re bringing to the American people when it comes to blindness, I knew it was something I wanted to be involved with.”
The 45-year-old went on to reveal he’s also got a personal connection to the project. “As a kid, I had issues with sight, and one of the scariest things I can think about is going blind,” said Common. “When my vision started to fade, it made me want to figure out what I could do to make sure my sight was at the level it should be.”
While his vision loss plateaued as he entered adulthood, Common added that the experience left a mark on him. “You really begin to appreciate your sight when you start having issues yourself,” said Common.
Meanwhile, fans can expect to see a bit of the rapper’s poetic prowess throughout the clip. “As long as we do it in a creative and cool way, then I’m all for it,” he continued of making the video. “And that’s what we did, we made a beautiful piece that I’m very happy about.” Check it out above and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
