1. AHMIR has been The Pixel Project’s YouTube Music Ambassador since you started as their “Artiste of the Month” back in April 2012. Since then AHMIR has been actively involved with The Pixel Project on the Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival and now, the “16 For 16” digital EP. What makes you so supportive of The Pixel Project and their “Music For Pixels” campaign?
Sing-Sing: We are supportive of The Pixel Project and their “Music for Pixels” campaign because their stance on violence against women aligns directly with ours. For a number of years we have discussed ways of using our platform, as artistes, to bring awareness to this issue. Once we got word of The Pixel Project, we jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with them in support of their campaign. Continue reading →
Thousands of viewers of the music video PSA of The Rose will have seen the portraits of 6 survivors of violence against women who courageously and generously allowed us to include their picture in the video, knowing that a global audience will see their faces and note their signs that they are survivors and wonder about the stories behind their hard-won smiles. Our sixth and final story features Elizabeth Warfield Smith, a survivor of rape and stalking who currently volunteers on The Pixel Project’s Twitter Tag Team.
I have been a victim of both rape and stalking as a teenager. I was also a victim of a family that chose not to believe me. I chose to have my photo in Ahmir’s music video PSA of “The Rose” to let every woman out there know that there is a way to smile, thrive, and love again.
Music is a language that everyone understands, though it may impact us differently as individuals. I also would like people to know that after the healing you can take one more step to reach out and help other women that need your hand or shoulder or hug, either virtually or in person. I am truly blessed to be able to show every one that watches the video that love is possible and I hope you can see that love in my eyes and smile. The Pixel Project is here for you and the young men of AHMIR prove that there are many others that are willing to help you in any way possible. Make love your first proiority and everything will fall into place.
When AHMIR, the Number 1 R&B group on YouTube, offered to cover ‘The Rose’ for our Music For Pixels campaign, we were delighted because it is a classic song that beautifully articulates the themes of love, hope, courage and the strength to survive. These are themes that are central to many a survivor’s journey to rebuilding and thriving after the violence.
The closing verse in particular says what speaks to many a survivor’s heart and experience:
When the night has been too lonely And the road has been too long And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong Just remember in the winter Far beneath the bitter snow Lies the seed That with the sun’s love, in the spring Becomes the rose
Amanda McBroom wrote ‘The Rose’ in 1977 as her answer to the question: “What do you think love is?”. She said:
1. AHMIR has been The Pixel Project’s YouTube Music Ambassador since you started as their “Artiste of the Month” back in April 2012. Since then AHMIR has been actively involved with The Pixel Project on the Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival and now, the “16 For 16” digital EP. What makes you so supportive of The Pixel Project and their “Music For Pixels” campaign?
