Whether it’s starring in the movie Selma and penning the Grammy and Oscar winning song “Glory,” or appearing on talk shows discussing the African-American plight, Common has been at the forefront of discussions concerning race and activism. His latest contribution was the November release of his album Black America Again, a critically acclaimed musical expression of the tensions in society. It’s also a reflection of the conversations he’s had with prominent figures about racial divisiveness in this country. One of those people is his longtime friend and former girlfriend Serena Williams.
With LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul giving a speech at the ESPYs, and Colin Kaepernick launching a national anthem protest, sports figures are no longer remaining silent on these issues.
Common recently sat down for a candid conversation about fame, race, and gender with Serena Williams, who came from Compton and went on to dominate a sport that rarely included black people. The video below is an edited, condensed version of The Undefeated in Depth: Serena with Common, an interview special that debuted on ESPN.
Transcript on The Undefeated.
