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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD, CELEBRATING AND HONORING COOK COUNTY NATIVE LONNIE RASHID LYNN, JR.-ALSO KNOWN AS "COMMON"-AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE AWARD-WINNING SONG "GLORY"
WHEREAS, "Glory," a song authored and performed by Chicago's own Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.-better known by his stage name, "Common"- and artist John Legend, with lyrical contributions from Che "Rhymefest" Smith, is included on the soundtrack to the movie Selma; and,
WHEREAS, Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay, is a movie acclaimed for its portrayal of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Marches undertaken by Civil Rights Activists including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, Amelia Boynton, James Bevel, and many others in advocacy of Voting Rights; and,
WHEREAS, the Selma to Montgomery Marches were a seminal moment in the history of the United States and the Civil Rights movement, which helped bring about the enactment of the Federal Voting Rights Act in 1965 that was signed into law by President Lyndon Baines Johnson; and,
WHEREAS, the song, "Glory" beautifully represents both the historical events depicted in the movie Selma as well as the relevance of this history to the struggle for equality that continues to this day in the United States of America; and,
WHEREAS, Common contributed to this acclaimed work of art not just through his musical contribution to the soundtrack, but also in his onscreen dramatic portrayal of James Bevel, one of the leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and,
WHEREAS, Common's performance of the song, "Glory" has been recognized as an outstanding artistic achievement, winning this year's Golden Globe Award for Best Song, and also earning a Best Song nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards; and,
WHEREAS, Common's composition and performance of the song "Glory" is just the latest in a series of notable achievements for this proud son of Chicago and Cook County; and,
WHEREAS, Common was born in Chicago on March 13, 1972; and,
WHEREAS, Common has achieved great commercial and critical success as an internationally known hip hop artist, songwriter, and actor and is widely recognized for his positive, progressive message of compassion and social uplift; and,
WHEREAS, Common has used his success not only to further his personal ambitions but as a vehicle to give back to his community; and,
WHEREAS, 12 years ago, Common started the Common Ground Foundation, a Chicago not-for-profit organization with the mission of using the creative arts to expose youth to new opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, the Common Ground Foundation has played an active service role in Cook County, connecting youth with mentoring, educational and vocational opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, in 2014 Common hosted the AAH! Fest, a one-day community wide music festival that also provides job-related activities and opportunities for youth to assist in all aspects of staging a performance, including helping to assist with the production process behind the scenes; and,
WHEREAS, the recognition of Common for his song, "Glory" and Common's commitment to artistic excellence and community building embody the very best of Cook County;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the President of Cook County and the Cook County Board of Commissioners that we honor and celebrate, and congratulate Common for the well-deserved recognition he and his fellow performers and composers have received for the song "Glory."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Clerk provide a copy of this resolution to Common and the Common Ground Foundation at the earliest opportunity, in recognition of this achievement.
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