Kenya Barris on ‘We the People’: ‘I want people to start a conversation’

June 18 (UPI) — Kenya Barris discussed his upcoming Netflix animated series We the People and Black-ish ending while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

We the People, which will be released on July Fourth, will cover a range of basic U.S. civics lessons through animated music videos.

Barris executive produces the project with creator Chris Nee and Barack and Michelle Obama. H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Lambert, Cordae, Bebe Rexha, KYLE, Andra Day and poet Amanda Gorman provide the music.

“I feel like I want the things that I do to be about something. I want people to start a conversation. Even some conversation that is against me, at least it starts a conversation,” Barris said about We the People on Thursday.

“I think this conversation is about learning what this country, at its foundation should be be about, and also taking responsibility for what it’s not about. And I think that animation is something that lasts the test of time and I’m really happy to be a part of it,” he continued.

Barris’ Black-ish will be coming to an end with an eighth and final season, ABC announced in May.

“To be a Black show that came on after Modern Family was amazing. It was really important to us to say that we wanted to speak to the world, and talk about our culture. We didn’t want to hide it. We wanted it to be a show that was absolutely, positively about a 100% Black family,” Barris said.

“You don’t get to say goodbye, sometimes you’re just canceled. But to be able to walk the show home and give the audience who’s supported us this long a proper goodbye means a lot,” he continued.
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