“Call+Response” is a first-of-its-kind feature documentary film that reveals the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: There are more slaves today than ever before in human history. “Call+Response” goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving, from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India, to reveal that in 2009, slave traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.

Luminaries on the issue such as Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Nicholas Kristof and many other prominent political and cultural figures offer firsthand account of this 21st century trade. Performances from Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed artists including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, members of Nickel Creek and Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and Rocco Deluca move this chilling information into inspiration for stopping it.

Music is part of the movement against human slavery. Dr. Cornel West connects the music of the American slave fields to the popular music we listen to today, and offers this connection as a rallying cry for the modern abolitionist movement currently brewing.

There is a sea of change happening in human rights activism. The world’s issues cannot be solved alone by governments and nonprofits, but require community-based participation. As a feature film, “Call+Response” has the unique position of being not only a groundbreaking genre-bending film but also serves as a deft tool in the hands of 21st century abolitionists. We provide activists with tactile strategic online and mobile tools to fight slavery every day. We believe this is a fight that must be won with passion, innovation and commitment.

The film is to be shown 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

 

Taryn Israel Nechanicky
Albert Lea