Oscars 2015: Oscar-winning John Legend, Common see global message in ‘Glory’

HOLLYWOOD, USA  – Common and John Legend made a heartfelt plea for civil rights in lands as far away as Hong Kong when they collected Sunday, February 22 the Academy Award for best original song for “Glory,” their politically aware theme from Selma.

Check out the performance here:

In one of the most articulate Oscars acceptance speeches of the night, the singer-songwriters referenced the bridge in the Alabama town where a 1965 march led by Martin Luther King spurred national support for the Voting Rights Act.

“The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from the south side of Chicago, dreaming of a better life, to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression, to those in Hong Kong, protesting for democracy,” Common said.

“This bridge was built on hope, welded with compassion and elevated with love for all human beings.”

Legend added: “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live. We wrote this for a film that happened 50 years ago, but the struggle for justice (is) right now.”

“We live in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more black men under correctional control today than were under slavery in 1850,” he said.

“When people are marching with our song, we want to tell you, we are with you. We see you. We love you and march on. God bless you.”

Common and Legend collected their Oscar after an especially powerful live performance of “Glory” that stirred the Oscar crowd and brought tears to the eyes of David Oyelowo, the British actor who plays King in Selma.

Co-produced by talk-show tycoon Oprah Winfrey, Selma was among the eight best picture Oscar nominees this year, with Birdman emerging as the winner. (READ: FULL LIST: Winners, Oscars 2015)

Watch the Oscars on HBO Asia Monday Feb 23, 9pm, Feb 24, 12pm, Feb 25, 11pm, Feb 27, 11pm, March 1, 4:30pm. – Rappler.com

Acting Category Winners:

• Oscars 2015: JK Simmons wins Best Supporting Actor
• Oscars 2015: Patricia Arquette wins Best Supporting Actress
• Oscars 2015: Eddie Redmayne wins Best Actor
• Oscars 2015: Julianne Moore wins Best Actress

More Oscars 2015 on Rappler:

• Oscars 2015: Oscar-winning John Legend, Common see global message in ‘Glory’
• Oscars 2015: 10 unforgettable moments
• LIVE UPDATES: Oscars 2015
• FULL LIST: Winners, Oscars 2015
• IN PHOTOS: Red Carpet, Oscars 2015
• Oscars 2015: Watch Neil Patrick Harris in awesome opening number
• Oscars 2015: Meet ‘Glom Gazingo,’ or John Travolta, presented by Idina Menzel 
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• Oscars 2015: Julie Andrews praises Lady Gaga’s ‘Sound of Music’ performance
• Oscars 2015: ‘Birdman’ wins Best Picture
• FULL LIST: Oscar 2015 Nominees
• 10 things to look out for on Oscars night
• 9 fun facts about the 2015 Oscars
• Too white, too male: Oscars accused over nominees
• Neil Patrick Harris to host 2015 Oscars‎