by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Politico
Washington powerhouse POLITICO recruited a legend of sorts for their pre-White House Correspondents’ Dinner bash. John Legend that is: Songwriter, nine-time Grammy Awards, Golden Globe winner and one Academy Award. Legend was recruited for his music, like the anthem he penned with hip-hop artist Common for the film “Selma,” but also for his prowess as an activist.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: John Legend speaks onstage at “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
The increasingly tense national race relations between police and activists have been a hot-button issue for Legend and he was ready to weigh in during a panel discussion on the modern day civil rights movement.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: John Legend performs at “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
CNN contributor Van Jones was one of many political and media VIPs in attendance who had a thought on the state of race in America. Also in attendance, were ABC’s “Black-ish” spouses Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson, “House of Cards” star Michael Kelly, almost-former Attorney General Eric Holder, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, E! News Correspondent Alicia Quarles, and NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: John Legend performs at “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
Legend himself was not on his way to DC’s Nerd Prom, he was already committed to singing at New Orleans Jazz Fest he said, although wife Chrissy Teigen was ready to attend. He said he’d be back in time for the after parties however. “It’s good to mix politics and comedy” he said, referencing that a little levity is good for the soul of the politicians faced with day-to-day hard questions about governing our country.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Paul Pelosi (L) and Nancy Pelosi attend “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
Also on hand to lend some gravitas to the discussion was Eric Holder, the soon to be ex-Attorney General. With a final vote confirming Loretta Lynch, Mr. Holder was mearly minutes out of his last day when he turned up at the event and told Hollywood on the Potomac that he was slowly ready to retire as the nation’s top cop. “So far so good” he quipped, “Gotta ease into it.”
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: (L-R) U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Sharon Malone, and John Legend attend “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
A panel discussion followed including POLITICO’s Mike Allen and human rights advocate Malika Saada Saar; featuring Legend; director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Munoz; Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative; and professor and author of The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander. The timing was excessively relevant as tensions grew worse in DC’s neighboring Baltimore, on the verge of riots related to another police involved death.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Dr. William Smith (L) and POLITICO COO Kim Kingsley attend “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
Van Jones, CNN contributor and long-time civil rights advocate told Hollywood on the Potomac that independent oversight around the country seemed like the best bet to try and even out the hostile battle over policing that keeps turning up city after city. As things in Baltimore grow worse, the hope is that any suggested solution can help to calm the tidal wave of uncertainty that has started to flow about how policing and race will continue to peacefully move forward around the USA.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Jean Case (L) and Steve Case attend “An Evening With John Legend” hosted by POLITICO to kick-off White House Correspondents’ weekend at Longview Gallery on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO)
Hear the comments from Van Jones and get a peak at the panel and John Legend’s performance here:
