A Message from Nile Rodgers…
Nile with his mother, Beverly.
Black Panther 21 Demonstration in NYC
Nile and Bernard Edwards in the Studio with Sister Sledge recording “We Are Family”
Black Lives Matter.
As a 7-year-old boy I learned about racism when I, the only black kid walked into my 2nd Grade classroom. I was harassed by the other kids, teachers and surprisingly by many adults in my New York City neighborhood.
As a 12-year-old black child I was threatened at gunpoint by various random policemen and gun-toting whites of all backgrounds when I moved with my family to Los Angeles.
As a 16-year-old I joined the Black Panther Party in New York. I was a subsection leader in the Harlem Branch. We stood up for racial equality and provided breakfast to school children and countless other basic needs actions in the community. Those deeds provided me with principles by which I live to this very day.
As a 19-year-old professional black musician, I joined the Sesame Street Band. Since then I’ve travelled throughout the United States and the world countless times. Systemic racism is global. Music is my therapy, my voice and my passport into people’s lives. Somehow it allows others to see and judge me differently. My music breaks down many barriers, but my micro-discrimination encounters in everyday life remind me that racism’s ugly by-products are still here.
As a direct result of 9/11, there were rampant racist attacks against American Muslims – and people who “looked Muslim”, including those of Middle Eastern descent. About the same time, a documentary with Nelson Mandela dancing to my song “We Are Family” was making the rounds on the film festival circuit. I got numerous calls from friends all over the world to re-record it. They thought that the song’s unifying message would help jump start the healing process.
I founded We Are Family Foundation, whose primary mission was anti-biasness. We quickly learned that focusing on basic human needs and our common humanity was our way of pursuing lasting peace. And the best way to do that was through the efforts of youth who have already adopted similar missions. Globally we are a mosaic of cultures and colors. Thus, our call to action is to educate, organize and bring communities together. Our global human family is fragile - COVID-19 has shown us that - but also powerful when we use our collective actions.
The world is watching and is in solidarity with the United States. Black Lives Matter protests have taken place on six continents and in cities and towns of all sizes. There have been countless murders of people of color for hundreds of years. But the killing of George Floyd has resonated in a way I have never witnessed in my lifetime. I was politicized as a young person and now young people are leading the equal rights cause all around the world. I’m proud and I’m hopeful. Maybe at this moment in time we’ll truly move in a direction of positive change for equality, equity and equal justice.
George Floyd will be remembered in our lexicon in the battle against prejudice for his ultimate sacrifice. Like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. he’ll be recalled for the dynamic changes his senseless death brought to our world.
We Are Family Foundation condemns systemic racism and violence and we stand in solidarity with organizers and protesters around the world for justice.