Orlando Jones’ creativity knows no bounds. He’s written for popular TV shows (A Different World and MadTV), starred in movies (Office Space and Double Take) and TV shows (Sleepy Hollow and Black Dynamite), interviewed Kanye West and David Banner on the Orlando Jones Show for their first television appearances, and acted on Broadway in The Wiz. And now he’s taking on music with an important message.

Inspired by Steve Jobs’ “Think Different” idea, Jones wrote the first single, found below, to the soundtrack of his upcoming graphic novel, Tainted Love. He’s taken in all of the recent deaths of Trayvon Martin, Renisha McBride, Rekia Boyd, Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, Aiyana Jones, and Latasha Harlins, and asks the question if they could have changed the world in a profound way had their lives not been tragically shortened. The song is purely meant to make you want to ask questions and seek those answers. Don’t just listen to the lyrics carefully but pay attention to the visuals.

He had this to say about himself and the video:

“I am not a politician. I am not an academic. I have no earthly idea how to create systemic change on a policy level so that people stop dying and get written off as another statistic. However, I do believe in the transformative power of narrative storytelling across a multitude of platforms. Media representations of persons of color matter. How we see ourselves and how others see us represented in popular culture sets the stage for how we will navigate a world where privilege is the Golden Rule: ‘Those Who Have The Gold Make The Rules.’”

You can stay up to date on his project and more HERE. We applaud you, Mr. Jones, for using your name and position of power responsibly. We just hope it affects positive change from here.

Music and lyrics by Orlando Jones & Selvah. Female vocals by Lee Anna James and Selvah. Raps provided by CRUMM.

Bryan Hahn (@notupstate)