On the eve of President Barack Obama talking about immigration policy June 30, Russell Simmons took to the Web to deliver his thoughts on the matter.
During the Rose Garden speech, Obama took a strong swipe at the GOP, saying, “They’ve proven again and again that they’re unwilling to stand up to the Tea Party in order to do what’s best for the country, and the worst part about it is a bunch of them know better.” Obama kept the attention focused on the “humanitarian crisis” which can only be relieved by fixing America’s immigration system.
Simmons, 56, has been a part of the website collective known as Welcome.us. Led by Tolu Olubunmi and featuring the work of Michael Skolnik, the site aims to spread a light on the issue of immigration while excluding no one from its scope. By highlighting the number of children placed in foster care because their parents have been deported, Welcome.us is educating the masses about the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Speaking from the “Home of Immigrant Heritage Month,” the All Def Digital co-founder wrote a post via his Huffington Post blog to bring light to the situation. We were able to read through his musings and spotlight five things we learned from his conversation. Enjoy!
Creatives Have Ample Space
According to the Def Jam founder, there is now ample space to change America’s policy regarding in immigration reform. Citing President Barack Obama’s comments made on the last day of Immigrant Heritage Month, Uncle Rush urges creators to keep cultivating new ideas and promises that he is out there listening.
There’s A Strong Shift In The Culture
For years, Simmons has been the engine behind new cultures developing inside America and around the globe. In his recent blog post, he admitted that it took him getting older to realize the ability to shift culture could change hearts and minds.
Celebrity Short Films To Spotlight Immigrants
To bring more awareness to Immigrant Heritage Month and the people within the culture, Simmons tapped his celebrity friends to helm and star in short films. Naya Rivera, Guillermo Diaz, Rocsi Diaz, and Paola Mendoza will direct some beautiful work, while Jamie-Lynn Sigler with star in one alongside courageous immigrants who offer their testimonials.
Mark Zuckerberg & Others Joined In
A credible honorary board of participants has been formed, ranging from Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to Padma Warrior, and Jim Breyer. Aided by longtime collaborator Michael Skolnik, the group aims to champion the immigration issue for quite some time.
Moving Culture Is Important
A student of the game can learn Simmons’ motivation behind moving the culture. But, according to him, the ability to push said culture into the future creates space for action—whether good or not so good—and is imperative for us all to learn about facilitating the greater good.
To read Russell Simmons’ full thoughts on the subject of immigration, please be sure to read his blog post by clicking here.