By Edith Billups
Special to the AFRO
|
Singers John Legend (left) and Will.i.am perform at the 2008
Democratic National Convention in Denver's Pepsi Center.
(Photo: Afro-American Newspapers / J. Oliver)
|
DENVER - (September 4, 2008) - African-American celebrities ranging from media mogul Oprah Winfrey to Washington, D.C. gospel singer Richard Smallwood turned out for the 45th Democratic National Convention as Sen. Barack Obama accepted his party’s nomination for president, a moment that will be forever engrained in time.
As an African-American male became the first politician of color to potentially win the highest elected office in America, numerous Black celebrities participated in the historic occasion, headlining concerts, sitting on panels or hosting parties.
Celebrities attending the four day convention included singers Stevie Wonder and Frankie Beverly; filmmaker Spike Lee; and Haitian musician Wyclef Jean. Also spotted were actresses Angela Basset, Lynn Whitfield and Jurnee Smollett; rappers Nas, Nelly and Kanye West; actor Danny Glover; singers John Legend and will.i.am and more.
On Sunday afternoon, at the DNC’s first-ever interfaith prayer meeting, gospel singer Richard Smallwood and Vision brought an enthusiastic crowd to its feet at the 5,000-seat Wells Fargo Theater as a group of religious leaders spoke on topic ranging from taking responsibility for our children to taking responsibility to our world.
Later, during an evening hosted by California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, several hundred partied like it was 1999 at Buell’s Performing Arts Center as the District’s Frankie Beverly brought down the house.
The event, which kicked off with speakers Al Sharpton, Cornel West, Michael Dyson and Tavis Smiley, shifted “from a civil rights event to a house party,” said Gwen Kels, a D.C. resident and businesswoman and ending at about 1 a.m.
At a reception at the Hard Rock Café hosted by the Creative Coalition, which works to spotlight the issues of Hollywood’s artists and entertainers, Spike Lee said that Obama’s candidacy was critical “for the future of this world, not just America. We need a new way of thinking. We need a change.”
Lee, seated next to Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, listened as former “ER” actress Gloria Reuben sat on a panel and discussed what she would do if she had one minute with the next president. “I would urge him to develop a national AIDS strategy,” said the actress, who was seated next to actor Tim Daley. “It’s astounding that the government has not established a program for prevention and treatment. Hillary Clinton said last fall that if AIDs was the No. 1 killer of young White women in the U.S., it would be a priority in America.”
|
Hatian Musician Wyclef Jean performs at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver's Pepsi Center. (Photo: Courtesy)
|
Reuben said that she “looked forward to Barack Obama becoming president and dealing with this issue,” and other stars interviewed echoed their excitement about Obama making a change.
At a party at Theorie hosted by The Perennial Strategy Group, Haitian musician Wyclef Jean said, “I am from a Third World country where people have gotten shot when they go to cast a vote. To be able to vote without fear in America and to have a man running for office like Obama is a great thing. “Martin Luther King Jr. has to be looking down and smiling.”
Jean drove his point home during a standing room only performance, in which he played a bluesy rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” and touted Michelle Obama as a queen. “Instead of spending billions on the war, we can feed the poor,” sang the musician, before segueing into Bob Marley’s “Stand Up for your Rights.”
Later at a party at the 1770 Event Complex hosted by the same group, DJ Biz Markie said that he is a Democrat who will be voting for Obama. Dressed in a T-shirt with the words “Barack and Roll,” Markie said, “People in America, not just Black people, need a change.”
Referring to McCain, Markie said, “This is no country for old men. We need someone with a vision like Obama who is young and vigorous. He is a role model for all of America.”
Other A-list celebrities spotted during the week included actresses Anne Hathaway and Ellen Burstyn, and singers Michael McDonald, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow. The star power provided added excitement for convention goers and news for the press, who turned out by the thousands.