John Legend: "A Commitment To Truth Requires A Commitment To Social Justice" Democracy Now 1 of 2

Grammy-Winning Soul Musician John Legend at UPenn Commencement: "A Commitment To Truth Requires A Commitment To Social Justice"

John Legend: From the war in Iraq to credit-default swaps to the internet bubble to the real estate bubble, too often we got caught up in the hype and failed to see the real truth Too often we become apathetic. We see the lies, we see the obfuscation, the deception. But we fail to point it out. Were afraid to rain on the parade. Afraid to rock the boat. Afraid to pursue the truth.

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• 5/19/09

[vechorik]

Everyone should learn about United Nations Agenda 21. "Social Justice" and redistribution of wealth sounds cool to American liberals. Wait until they find that their money is not being redistributed in America, but to other countries. Is that really what they want? I don't think so. Remember the blacks waiting in line for their "Obama money?" They really thought redistribution of wealth was coming to them. People on welfare in America are richer than many people in 3rd world countries.

[joshonthestreet1]

@elvandrik - I want a bigger piece of the pie for all of us. When you're ready to take your blinders off and see who's really sticking it to you, let me know. Until then, have fun putting money in other people's pockets while you work for squat.

[elvandrik]

@joshonthestreet1 White guilt...white guilt...white guilt....

[elvandrik]

@joshonthestreet1 And I wasn't part of any of these acts, nor was i born yet, which means I don't owe anyone sh*t nor can I be held resposible. let go of the past and move on.

[elvandrik]

@joshonthestreet1 White supremacy? Have you seen the President??!?!? Your argument is fundamentally flawed considering our current President is black. For people who think like you, there will never be equality, because you refuse to let go of the past and move forward.

[elvandrik]

Ok, then you donate your money. I'll keep mine. 

[joshonthestreet1]

@elvandrik In 3rd world countries, there hasn't been a "Labor Movement" to protect workers (like that which took place in the U.S. in the early 1900's), so Corporations can exploit people. Protections such as the 8 hour work day, overtime, child-labor laws, a minimum wage: those are all advances we enjoy thanks to the unions you are trying to now villify. In Canada Labor costs are cheaper because they have a National Healthcare system, so employers are not on the hook for this service.

[joshonthestreet1]

@elvandrik Lastly, as I said before, Social Justice isn't just about race. I'm guessing you're not super wealthy. Look, the average white person definitely got a step up because of white privilege. But the people who have made a killing off of this "system of White Supremacy" are the ruling elite - rich folks and corporations. Racism causes white folks to blame Black people for their problems and vice versa, instead of uniting to fight for a bigger share of the pie.

[joshonthestreet1]

@elvandrik 2nd, LEGAL segregation existed in this country until the 1960's. White terrorists in hoods and robes rode around good swaths of this country lynching and terrorizing Black citizens who "stepped out of place" by voting, or speaking up. This isn't ancient history. In 1964 when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act, Washington D.C. was more segregated than Johannesburg, South Africa.

[joshonthestreet1]

@elvandrik First of all, I'm white. And although my ancestors came to the U.S. in the early 1900's and never owned slaves, they certainly benefited from Black share-cropping in the South which produced cheap raw materials that fed industry in the North and allowed my relatives to work as businessmen (i.e off the backs of Black labor). I don't feel I owe anyone anything. I care about opportunities for others and the big picture (i.e. history) because we're all inter-connected.