Aside from celebrities bringing us entertainment through music and movies and whatnot, these celebrities are actually using their fame for more than just that. Between Empowering women, embracing “black girl magic”, fighting against HIV/AIDS, funding schools and putting a stop to Sex Trafficking, these five celebs are using their platforms to make a change.
Ariana Grande
Through all the tragedy and unfortunate string of events that has happened to our celebrity sweetheart, Ari, she’s still thriving and doing better than ever. With releasing her new album, “Thank U, Next” at the beginning of 2019, she’s breaking record after record. Not only is she giving us lots of new music to listen to, but she’s inspiring women and girls around the world that it’s okay to be fiercely independent. With songs like “7 rings” and “thank u, next”, she’s making it known that she’s spoiling and working on herself all 2019, and not feeling bad about it. She’s practicing what some people might call a “big mood”.
Janelle Monae
“Let the vagina have a monologue.”
Aside from Ariana Grande, many other powerful female celebrities are using their platforms to make bold statements, like Janelle Monae. With one of her most recent hits, “Make Me Feel”, Monae communicates through her lyrics a sense of sexual freedom. She embraces her sexuality and makes it known that she is attracted to men and women, and that’s okay. The music video shows her dancing with men and woman, being attracted to both. Another powerful song that’s influenced many women is “Django Jane.” First off, she mentions she is Kansas City-born, which represents that she started off with a very little platform and her parents were in poverty for most of her childhood and teen life. But she overcame the hardships and is now making headlines with her empowering music. Also, in the song, “Django Jane”, she stands up for women’s rights, especially black women. With phrases like, “let the vagina have a monologue” and “black girl magic” she’s taking a stand for all women everywhere. Last but not least, Monae is even challenging gender norms by her usual attire of a suit and tie, letting women know that they can dress however they want, they’re not just limited to pretty pink dresses, and tight skirts. Janelle Monae is speaking for all of us when she produces music that empowers women!
Alicia Keys
The 15-time Grammy Award winner is focusing on more than just her music. She is helping a global fight against HIV/AIDS through “Keep a Child Alive” and also funding multiple organizations through the “We Are Here” movement to help provide a peaceful and better world for all. She traveled to Johannesburg and Durban, South America, along with 5 other Americans who won the opportunity to travel to the Keep a Child Alive funded sites with Alicia Keys. The organization provides first class AIDS care, support, nutrition, and love to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. I’d say Alicia is using her platform in the best way possible!
Chance the Rapper
“Quality education for public schools is the most important investment a community can make.”
Aside from the powerful women we’ve been seeing recently, Chance has also been working on something other than just making music. He’s helped to fund it. Starting with his hometown, Chicago, he ensured that every public school has a strong Art curriculum. His SocialWorks organization has raised $2.2 million for Chicago Public Schools’ Arts programs.
In a Rolling Stone’s article, they got a quote directly from Chance. “Quality education for public schools is the most important investment a community can make,” said the rapper at Chicago’s Harold Washington Cultural Center. Keep doing your thing Chance! We support you!
Ashton Kutcher
If anyone is wondering where the famous “That ‘70s Show” actor has been recently, I’ve got the scoop. Kutcher has been fighting for anti-sex trafficking. In 2009, he and his ex-wife, Demi Moore, founded Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children. This non-profit organization builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse. Kutcher now calls this organization his “day job”. A software they have produced, named Spotlight, has already helped many victims. “In six months, with 25% of our users reporting, we’ve identified over 6,000 trafficking victims…we’re reducing the investigation time by 60%,” said Kutcher in an opening testimony speech in 2017 (CNN). To this day, he still continues to fight against sex trafficking. Whatta man!
