84R18372 BPG-D
By: Turner of Harris H.R. No. 1784
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Acclaimed R&B artist John Legend has demonstrated a
deep commitment to justice and equality, and he is making a positive
difference in the world around him through his music, his advocacy,
and his philanthropic initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Building on the tradition of engagement established
during the Civil Rights era by performers such as Nina Simone,
Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, John Legend has combined stardom
with a determination to address contemporary problems; he joined
with hip-hop band The Roots to release Wake Up!, a Grammy-winning
album of politically engaged soul songs from the 1960s and 1970s;
after scoring a massive pop hit with the love ballad "All of Me," he
delivered a powerful message about the continuing struggle for
human rights in the anthem "Glory," a collaboration with rapper
Common that closes the historical film Selma; and
WHEREAS, "Glory" won the 2015 Best Original Song Oscar, and
in his acceptance speech, Mr. Legend spoke movingly about the
legacy of slavery and the current high incarceration rates of
African American men; moreover, in magazine editorials and other
venues, he has raised awareness of structural racism and
opportunity gaps; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Legend founded the Show Me Campaign,
which strives to interrupt the cycle of poverty and close the
school-to-prison pipeline that has devastated low-income
communities; the organization supports and sponsors educational
programs such as the LNRG Innovation Challenge, which is also
sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and the National Writing
Project; dedicated to ending mass incarceration, the campaign
promotes public policies that will allow the nation to redirect
funds from the prison-industrial complex to education,
rehabilitation, and effective reentry services; and
WHEREAS, John Legend has traveled to the Lone Star State to
unite his efforts with those of the Texas Criminal Justice
Coalition, a nonpartisan group working to eliminate the costly
overreliance on incarceration; he shares with the organization a
profound desire to advance solutions that will strengthen families
and communities, and it is truly a pleasure to honor him for his
contributions to social progress; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby welcome John Legend to the State Capitol and
commend him for his endeavors in behalf of education and criminal
justice reform; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Legend as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.