We Are The World

On the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of “We Are the World/USA for Africa, H.H. Leonard – Founder/CEO, The “O” Street Mansion and Paul J. Cohn – Chairman, The “O” Street Museum, hosted the DC Premiere of “Stand Together As One… The Famine. The Music. The Impact.”

“It is a privilege to welcome you here tonight for the premiere,  a film that speaks to the heart of what we believe at The O Museum in the Mansion. Music, storytelling, and art are not just forms of expression, but powerful tools to affect change,” said H.H. Leonard.  “At the O, we encourage everyone who enters to dare to be different, to see the world not as it is, but as it could be, and to work towards this vision. Music and film have the ability to connect us in ways that nothing else can, to remind us of our shared humanity, of the responsibility we have to one another. And as this film so beautifully illustrates, when we stand together, we can create miracles.”

“Marcia Thomas,  Executive Director of USA for Africa, is here,” Leonard added. “In 2020, she was the recipient of the Mrs. Rosa Park’s humanitarian award for her unwavering commitment to making sure that the world continues to feed the hungry, serve the underserved, and inspire change. In today’s world, she has raised $220 million and very few people know it was her decision making that made sure that all of this money went to those in need. The song We Are The World was the brainchild of Harry Belafonte, a dear friend of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Mr. Belafonte visited Mrs. Parks many times here, and I leave you with a story about them.

Dr. Mark Luther King was a close friend of Mrs. Parks. She was the one that persuaded him to become the head of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, believing that he was the anointed one. He refused her several times until she said, ‘Martin, you’re new in town. No one has any dirt on you. You have to do this.’ When Dr. King was assassinated, Mrs. Parks was so devastated she could not function. Harry Belafonte called telling her he had booked a hotel room for her for the funeral, and she could not stop crying when they talked. ‘I can’t go. I’m too distraught.’  Harry listened to her and said, ‘I’m picking you up in two days in my private jet. We’ll go together. I’ll prop you up.’  And he did. That was Harry. He always did the right thing. We need you all to do the right thing. Now. We need to seize the moment. I sincerely hope that after seeing this film that was made by Chip with no funds, that you’ll help him find places for him to show this great film. Mrs. Parks once said, ‘Memories of our lives, of our works will continue in others tonight.’  We honor that truth. May this film and this moment be more than just a reflection of histories. May it be a spark to what’s to come and what we can do.”

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