‘Shining A Light’: TV Concert Show Promotes Progress On ‘Race In America’ Featuring Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Jill Scott, And Pharrell Williams

Shining A Light, a new concert for progress on race in America, will feature some of the biggest celebrities in America who are standing up and lending their voice in support of ending the race crisis that has risen up and reared its ugly head in America once again, according to a press release issued by A&E back in October.

Shining A Light A Concert For Progress On Race In America viewers will enjoy performances by some of their favorite artists, such as Zac Brown Band, Jamie Foxx, Jill Scott, Tori Kelly, Rhiannon Giddens, John Legend, Miguel, Pink, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Pharrell William, and Eric Church.

The A&E Network, with iHeartMedia, is presenting the event with the hope that some sort of change or transformation will take place in society. In the new video preview for Shining A Light: A Concert For Progress On Race In America, young people are fighting for their right to be heard, stating that the topic of race is “a conversation that needs to happen.”

Inspired by the Charleston tragedy that occurred where nine blacks lost their lives because of a racist gunman, Shining A Light will air for the first time on Friday, November 20th on A&E. Immediately after the concert, there will be another show entitled Shining A Light: Conversations On Race In America, where artists will engage in a timely discussion about the topic of race in 2015.

The live taping of Shining A Light A Concert For Progress On Race In America will take place at The Shrine Auditorium located at 665 W Jefferson Blvd in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, November 18th. Ticket sales are between $25 and $75. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the live event beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Futon Critic reports that the event has been so successful that tickets were sold out in less than three hours, which generated more than $150,000 for the cause. All ages are welcome to the event. Those who cannot attend but who want to help can do so by submitting a donation online at the United Way official website, which also has a more in-depth explanation of who will benefit from the funds.

The Charleston shootings were not the only tragic event that inspired this much-needed concert; it was also inspired by the events in Ferguson, New York, and the events in Boston, as well as other sporadic events across the nation. It is also a response to Fox News critics who have vilified the Black Lives Matter cause by labeling it as a hate group, according to Media Matters.

Shining A Light A Concert For Progress On Race In America is about change, peace, love, unity, and respect among all members of society and an understanding that racism is alive and well, despite the people on Fox News and on social media who say “It’s not about race,” a statement heard in just about every discussion where blacks have felt wronged. Media Matters For America and United Way explains the purpose of the Shining A Light: A Concert For Progress On Race In America this way.

Media Matters For America

“In the aftermath of the Charleston, SC shooting, iHeartMedia is planning a concert to ‘kick off A+E Networks’ campaign to confront issues of race, and promote unity and progress on racial equity.’ However, a large part of iHeartMedia’s brand is built on its syndication of several right-wing radio hosts — Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, and Michael Berry — who consistently take racially inflammatory positions on their shows and denigrate civil rights advocacy.”

United Way

“That reaction inspired A+E Networks to create the Fund for Progress on Race in America Powered by the United Way to support organizations and individuals (through a sponsoring organization) working to heal historic racial divides, identify and eradicate bias, and activate solutions, as well as to directly aid the Charleston community that inspired this effort.

Don’t miss this epic event beginning at 8 p.m. this Friday on A&E. Watch these fervent young people below in the trailer for Shining A Light: A Concert For Progress On Race In America. Back in May, Inquisitr reported on the iHeart Country Music Festival.

[Image via Shining A Light/Facebook]