In 1985, at the height of his global fame, Stevie Wonder put his body on the line for justice.
On Valentine’s Day that year, Wonder joined protesters outside the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C., demanding an end to apartheid. Holding a sign that read “Free South Africa,” he stood in solidarity with millions facing racial oppression under the apartheid regime. During the demonstration, Stevie Wonder was briefly arrested for violating a local ordinance related to protesting near the embassy and later released.
His activism didn’t stop there. Shortly after winning an Academy Award for “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” Wonder publicly dedicated the honor to Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned at the time. In response, South African broadcasters reportedly banned his music from airplay, a move that only underscored the cost of speaking out.
Stevie Wonder’s legacy is not only written in timeless music, but in moments like this — when he used his platform, visibility, and freedom to confront injustice head-on.
Source: Vintage & Iconic African American Everything
