Harry Belafonte's Sankofa Enlists Raphael Saadiq & More For '17' EP
Harry Belafonte's Sankofa has released a visual EP.
Titled17, the 19 minute visual EP features contributions from Raphael Saadiq ("The Answer"), Elijah Blake ("Hanging Tree"), Ty Dolla Sign ("No Justice") and Mali Music ("Drama"). The tracks accompany visuals that tells the story of a 17-year-old black teenager by the name of Jacobi Nelson. Nelson is considering going to college, but a run in with police results in a tragic outcome. Nelson's narrative is divided into different chapters with titles such as "Innocence," "Daydream," "Twilight" and "Resist."
"Artists are the gatekeepers of truth and have a unique opportunity to instruct as well as entertain,"Belafonte said in a statement. "17is a powerful visual meant to shift the paradigm of racial bias and illuminate the prolific issue of the carnage besieging black and brown communities all across this country."
17serves as an introduction to an upcoming album that will feature artists such asSting, John Legend andAndra Day. The project was made in honor of Black History Month, as well as the five year anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death in 2012.
Trayvon's parents are considering running for political office some time in the foreseeable future.
In an interview with USA Today's Capital Download, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton said that theirdesire to run for political office stemmed from the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, and how they feel his presidency will affect any progress that has come about for racial justice in America.
"Since Trayvon's death, we saw how divided the country is on these issues and we saw how the country can come together," Martin said. "You have those that are for uniting the country and you have those that want to be apart. And what this new presidency does, it takes those that want to be apart and it puts them right in the position where they can say, 'We'll change the laws, and we'll make it tougher.'"
Check out the video below.
