Chaka Khan has led a group of singers and actors in a musical tribute to American teen Trayvon Martin, killed in February. Khan gathered artists including Eric Benet and Angela Bassett to re-record her song Super Life, vowing that after "exploiting media to our own benefits", celebrities ought to "exploit media for the benefit of humanity as a whole".
Dressed in hoodies, Khan and more than a dozen public figures met at Hollywood's Henson recording studios, site of the 1985 recording of We Are the World. Like the marchers at protests that have swept the United States, the R&B legend said she had been infuriated by Martin's killing. It was time to "not just complain about it", she said, "but to do something about it".
In addition to the new version of Super Life, which Khan first released in 2007, the participants recorded a video public service announcement for release online. In addition to R&B singers including Kelly Price and Luke James, Khan enlisted numerous actors and reality TV stars, including Loretta Devine, Keke Palmer, Billie Woodruff and US X Factor contestant Stacy Francis. Many of the artists' children were involved, and several pop stars – including Macy Gray, Talib Kweli and Common – sent video testimonials for use in the project.
"Celebrities are privileged beyond belief to have a public following," Khan wrote on her website. "It's time for those of us who have a voice to speak out for life, for love and for justice using the same media we've used throughout our careers." For Bassett, Martin's tragedy underlined the injustices faced by so many young African-Americans. "I have a little boy child who is brilliant and full of potential," she said. "He should be able to live life fearlessly and with adventure."
Martin, 17, died on 26 February, on his way home from the supermarket. The shooter, George Zimmerman, was a member of a neighbourhood watch programme and argued that Martin was "a real suspicious guy". He shot the teen after being instructed by a 911 operator to stop following him. Due to Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law, Zimmerman was found to have acted in self-defence.
