John Legend’s new single “Preach” is here and it is a powerful call-to-action inspired by his church upbringing.
“The idea behind the song is that sometimes we can get so frustrated by the news and what’s going on and there’s this scatter going on in ourselves,” Legend said in a statement. “Do we become apathetic? Do we become engaged? Do we just talk about it, or do we do something?”
In a promotional video posted to Instagram last week, Legend opened up more, explaining, “I grew up in the church and one of the things we talked about was loving our neighbours as we love ourselves. My preacher told me that our neighbour wasn’t just the person that lives next door to you but other people whom you might not even know.”
The “Preach” video aims to give back as well, utilizing YouTube’s fundraising feature to raise donations for FreeAmerica, which “exists to amplify the voices of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system and those who are working to change it. By challenging stereotypes, breaking down barriers, and uplifting solutions, we are helping to end mass incarceration and invest in just, equitable, and thriving communities across the United States.”
Legend is a well-known advocate for criminal justice reform and looks to put his preaching into practice with this new song.