Thousands gathered at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park Brooklyn, on Friday Aug. 28, as BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! and The Action Lab presented rapper Common and special guests honoring the late Harry Belafonte’s legacy. The event brought together a diverse crowd filling the lawn of the bandshell with concertgoers settling in on blankets for a magical night of music, community and social consciousness.
The evening was hosted by Lemon Anderson and featured performances from Adi Oasis, La Bruja and Ana Tijoux leading into a headlining performance by Common. The Chicago-born artist spent decades moving between hip hop, film, literature and activism while using his platform to address issues including justice, education, mental health and community empowerment.
The night was also part of The Action Lab’s Belafonte Fellowship, which recognizes artists who use their platforms and creative work to advance grassroots social justice initiatives and movement strategy. Common was also named the organization's 2025 Harry Belafonte Fellow.
For Brooklynites, the setting felt fitting. Surrounded by community and in a location named after another legendary Black artist and Brooklyn native, the evening demonstrated how music can bring people together for a larger conversation about art, activism and shared responsibility.
