Scottish farmers celebrate achievements of Black business owners in Pharrell and Jay-Z's video
A married couple in Scotland features in the video for the hip-hop track “Entrepreneur” which celebrates the achievements of Black business owners in the face of adversity.
Profanity and if their farm in Scotland was camera-ready were the main worries that Michelle and Robert Sullivan had when they were invited to be in a video for a song by music titans Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z showcasing Black entrepreneurs.
The couple wondered if the Instagram invitation was frank, whether the song’s message would clash with their strong Christian values if they should perhaps turn down the offer because they didn’t have enough time to tidy up the farm.
Now, having overcome their initial doubts, the married couple in the rural north-east part of Scotland features in the video for the hip-hop track “Entrepreneur” which acclaims the accomplishments of Black business owners in the face of adversity.
Michelle Sullivan, 46, who set up The Artisan Grower vegetable box delivery service with her husband many years ago, said that “When we saw it, we were like, ‘This is good’. We were pleased with it.
“Since then it’s just gone crazy ... The world is interested in this ... It’s inspired by people of colour greatly.”
The new Pharrell Williams and rapper Jay-Z’s released song has already been received more than 3 million views on YouTube since its publication last Friday and has produced fresh discussion on racial economic equality in many countries including the US and the UK.
Pharrell Williams, whose most famous hits include “Happy” and “Frontin’”, declared in “The New American Revolution” issue of Time magazine which he curated, that the song’s purpose was to address “how tough it is to be an entrepreneur” in the United States, in particular amid these difficult times of uncertainties.
“Especially as someone of colour, there’s a lot of systemic disadvantages and purposeful blockages,” he pointed out, referring to the many inequalities in the health care system, education and economic sector.
The video, where the Scottish couple is in, features dozens of Black business owners from the United States and other nations, including a U.S. school founder, a Broadway star, a baker in Israel and the founders of an anime studio in Japan.
Meanwhile, Michelle Sullivan explained that she had never knowingly encountered direct racial discrimination, but saw common threads in the experiences of Black entrepreneurs in the UK.
“I think it’s really sad actually that we even have to make videos like this to try to prove to the world that people of colour are valuable,” she stated.
“For people of colour, we need to try to ignore the noise and just move forward with our plans the best way we can. And as we come across hurdles and things like that, we just push through.”
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