During Black History Month, in a time when it’s important to be aware of how the narrative of American history glosses over abuses and atrocities and sometimes casts a sinister light on people who fight for their rights, Chase Allen embraces self-love and black identity in the beautifully shot music video for "See The Light" (directed by Good Hype).

"I learned about Christopher Columbus before Malcom X. When I didn't know any better I thought the black panthers were gangsters. I grew up making fun of dark complexioned kids. If a girl had Cherokee in her family we used to say she had good hair. Seeing the light is about looking past all of the layers of oppression and self hate. The history of slavery is just the tip of the iceberg of our existence. We were once kings, you know?" – Chase Allen

"See The Light" is from the West Philly native and Los Angeles-based emcee/producer's recently released debut album Far From Home. Inspired by Malcolm X's highly influential autobiography, the project chronicles Chase's transformative trip across the country to his new home on the West Coast, while detailing the tumultuous life events that fostered his significant personal growth throughout his journey. The deeply personal project features guest producers Slimkat and Johann Sebastian, as well as guest vocalist Domi Jo.

Stream Far From Home on SoundCloud or Spotify.

Purchase Far From Home on iTunes: https://goo.gl/mhHDbd

Andre Barnes

Writing since February 2017 · 1 story contributed