MOTOWN BRINGS TRUTH TO D.C.

UMG/Motown and The Root participated in a Congressional Black Caucus event in D.C. hosted by Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) on 9/13 that, among other things, saw the debut of a new take on Marvin Gaye's seminal "What's Going On." The new video for the timeless hit, directed by Savannah Leaf, involves an array of key activists including people who have been on the forefront of action in the wake of Flint's water crisis. Motown chief Ethiopia Habtemariam (among those pictured above) took a spot on the panel.

The clip was part of UMG's Never Made series; check it out.

“We wanted a place that resonates with the song and the history of Motown, while also remaining relevant to the sociopolitical issues in the music video," says Leaf. "It was very important for us to find real people that resonated with the stories, rather than casting actors.”

Photos: Daniel Swartz