H.R. No. 1784
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Acclaimed R&B artist John Legend has demonstrated a
  deep commitment to justice and equality, and he is making a positive
  difference in the world around him through his music, his advocacy,
  and his philanthropic initiatives; and
         WHEREAS, Building on the tradition of engagement established
  during the Civil Rights era by performers such as Nina Simone,
  Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, John Legend has combined stardom
  with a determination to address contemporary problems; he joined
  with hip-hop band The Roots to release Wake Up!, a Grammy-winning
  album of politically engaged soul songs from the 1960s and 1970s;
  after scoring a massive pop hit with the love ballad "All of Me," he
  delivered a powerful message about the continuing struggle for
  human rights in the anthem "Glory," a collaboration with rapper
  Common that closes the historical film Selma; and
         WHEREAS, "Glory" won the 2015 Best Original Song Oscar, and
  in his acceptance speech, Mr. Legend spoke movingly about the
  legacy of slavery and the current high incarceration rates of
  African American men; moreover, in magazine editorials and other
  venues, he has raised awareness of structural racism and
  opportunity gaps; and
         WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Legend founded the Show Me Campaign,
  which strives to interrupt the cycle of poverty and close the
  school-to-prison pipeline that has devastated low-income
  communities; the organization supports and sponsors educational
  programs such as the LNRG Innovation Challenge, which is also
  sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and the National Writing
  Project; dedicated to ending mass incarceration, the campaign
  promotes public policies that will allow the nation to redirect
  funds from the prison-industrial complex to education,
  rehabilitation, and effective reentry services; and
         WHEREAS, John Legend has traveled to the Lone Star State to
  unite his efforts with those of the Texas Criminal Justice
  Coalition, a nonpartisan group working to eliminate the costly
  overreliance on incarceration; he shares with the organization a
  profound desire to advance solutions that will strengthen families
  and communities, and it is truly a pleasure to honor him for his
  contributions to social progress; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby welcome John Legend to the State Capitol and
  commend him for his endeavors in behalf of education and criminal
  justice reform; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Legend as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.
 
  Turner of Harris
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 1784 was adopted by the House on May
  7, 2015, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House