Twin Cities Teen Musicians Record Song For Philando Castile
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- "I have a voice." It's the message a group of teens are sharing after the police shooting death of Philando Castile in Falcon Heights last week.
Members of Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project came together to record a song in honor of the cafeteria supervisor. They said they needed a way to channel their emotions.
Students in the summer program felt deeply after learning Castile was killed by a police officer after a traffic stop.
"It took a hole in my heart," 16-year-old Andre Crowder said.
"We needed an outlet, something to go to and we all love music," 13-year-old Saleh Jacoway said.
Each brought their own story, their own background, and collaborated to empower the community.
"My first line is, 'Born by my black parents, but came out light.' When it comes to music you're able to be who you are," 14-year-old Avanhii Lewis said.
"You could feel the traumatic energy that these kids had in their hearts," instructor Maria Isa Perez said.
Instructors helped the students channel what they were feeling.
"It's these children trying to find a way that they can rise with that sun and not have to live in this fear that it could be them," Perez said.
"I have a voice" rang true.
"I don't think ethnicity matters when it comes to how you feel about it. We all got to lay out our emotions," Lewis said.
"We just want to make things better, we want this to stop. It's not just the grown-ups no more, it's not just the protesters no more, it's the kids too," Crowder said.
Click here to hear "I Have a Voice" in memory of Philando Castile. Here's more information about the nonprofit.