Lupe Fiasco and Chris Moore Seek to ‘Galvanize’ Students With Film

GW welcomed to campus hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco and film producer Chris Moore on Monday evening to discuss their upcoming film The People Speak: Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport. The film challenges people to stand up in their communities by performing dramatic reading from historical activists. Lupe Fiasco, a cast member, joined Moore, one of the film’s executive producers, to speak about the film’s message in the Jack Morton Auditorium to an audience of politically-engaged students.

From left to right, Sesno, Lupe Fiasco, and Moore at the press conference before the event. Photos by Heather Hodder.

Hosted by School of Media and Public Affairs Director and CNN Correspondent Frank Sesno, the event included a discussion with the stars and showed excerpts from the film. Lupe Fiasco performed a speech from Muhammad Ali concerning his dissent to the Vietnam draft. Moore, famed producer of American Pie and Good Will Hunting, introduced three excerpts which featured Lupe Fiasco, Don Cheadle, and John Legend respectively.

The group behind the movement has partnered with the History Channel to produce a feature-length movie.  It is based on dramatic readings performed by celebrities, chronicling the history of America.  The original concept is from Howard Zinn’s book, The People’s History of the United States which evolved into the live performance, Voices of a People’s History of the United States. After Moore and co-producer Matt Damon saw the performance, they decided to make a documentary out of it. The People Speak is the audio-video version of those works. The project attracted a large number of stars, Moore said, and “hardly anyone said no.”

Student Amanda Nazario asks a question of the filmmakers in Jack Morton Auditorium.

Lupe Fiasco said he “immediately signed on.” It was a clear fit for the hip-hop artist who regularly uses the poetry of his lyrics to tackle heavy subjects from rape to conflict diamonds. “It’s what I stand for professionally and personally. I’m drawn to this type of thing naturally…This is an extension of my work.”

The project seeks to show another side of history. This project “made me proud to be an American,” said Lupe Fiasco. “I’d only known the regular textbook history that’s based on imperialism, capitalism, and injustice. These stories have never been in the forefront.”

But now these lesser-known stories are given new life through well-known celebrities. “These are voices of dissent, of protest, voices of the voiceless,” said Sesno.

“These are not who were in power,” Moore said.

When a GW senior asked Lupe Fiasco about his reaction to President Barack Obama’s election, Fiasco said, “I don’t believe in the system, the American system of government.” He offered sharp critique of the two-party system and of Barack Obama, especially his stance on Afghanistan. “Before you’re even in the game, you are defending it.”

Amanda Nazario ’11 asked about the aesthetic of the film, which Moore described as the “power of simplicity.” Instead of relying on flashy effects, the producers focused on “saying something people want to hear.”

At the press conference before the event, The Daily Colonial asked what the filmmaker’s expectations were of the politically-aware students he would present to that evening. Moore said, “We hope that it can be galvanizing.”

Several students questioned the filmmakers about what they were doing to reach out to disenfranchised communities. The two pushed back repeatedly, turning the question on the students: “What are you gonna do about it?”

“Everyone can do something for a cause, even on a small, individual level,” said Ericka Miranda ’12, a member of Circle K International, a student community service organization.

“I think people came to the event with different motivations. I’m already engaged, I didn’t come here looking for how to get more involved,” said Nazario ‘11

“I really enjoyed it; I think there were many good points raised,” said Drew Spence ’13. “I think there were a lot of people here who were moved by the event. I think we are responsible to extend privileges to others who do not have them, I hope to get the opportunity [to do so].” Spence is a student on the SMPA Director’s Advisory Council and volunteered at the event, handing out programs and checking students in.

Lupe Fiasco was involved with a version of this project called Voices Remix at the Kennedy Center over the summer. GW student Liz Acevedo preformed spoken word at the event.  Speaking of the evolution of this project to its current incarnation, Lupe Fiasco said, “To see all of this come to fruition, to see the response, it is very satisfying.” Kerry Washington, a GW alumnus is a part of the project as well.

The People Speak will air on the History Channel on December 13 at 8 p.m.

Heather Hodder contributed to this article.