Hollywood Stars from Marginalized Communities Urge Fellow Americans to Get Out to Vote in New PSA (Exclusive)
A half-dozen showbiz figures, each of whom hails from a marginalized community within America, have recorded a public service announcement that is launching on Tuesday — which is National Voter Registration Day, and exactly seven weeks to the day from the 2024 presidential election — calling upon their fellow Americans to register to vote.
Participants in the campaign — which was organized by the media production and management consultancy ICON MANN and will air 48 times on the Revolt cable network from Sept. 17-29 — include producer/director Ali LeRoi, who created Everybody Hates Chris; Tony-winning stage and screen actress Anika Noni Rose; Grammy-winning singer/actress Estelle; actor/activist Jason Butler Harner; actor/producer Michael Ealy; Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo.
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Entitled “I, Too, Am America,” the bit was inspired by the 1926 Langston Hughes poem “I, Too,” which celebrates America’s diversity. The PSA was directed by Shadae Lamar Smith and features portraits by the aforementioned Ali LeRoi. Its post-production was handled by Lucky Day. Burrell Communications is the media partner for the campaign.
“‘I, Too, Am America’ is a reminder and a declaration that we will not be erased from the identity of the United States of America,” Tamara N. Houston, the founder of ICON MANN, said in a statement. “It is the ‘anything is possible if you work hard’ reality expressed daily through the contributions of the multicultural communities that make this the greatest country.”
Houston, whose organization recently partnered with The Creative Coalition on a separate effort to boost youth voter registration, continued, “With so much continued divisiveness being generated daily, it was important for ICON MANN to create a message of unity. America’s heritage is found in its diversity and embrace of its people. When conceiving ‘I, Too, Am America,’ it was essential to ensure that there was representation for all.”
Added Tara Deveaux, CEO of Burrell Communications Group, “Burrell Communications Group is proud to serve as media partner for the ‘I, Too, Am America’ get out the vote campaign, as the stakes for November’s presidential election could hardly be higher. Endorsements, enthusiasm and registrations are one thing, but actually getting out the vote nationally on election day is another, and nothing can be taken for granted this year. This election will be a consequential one impacting us all for years to come, and our agency is thrilled about the opportunity to leverage our power to help educate, amplify awareness and drive active participation.”
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