Stevland Hardaway Morris, soon known worldwide as Motown music icon Stevie Wonder, was born to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. Due to being six weeks premature, Wonder was placed in an incubator where he eventually developed premature retinopathy due to the exorbitant levels of oxygen, leading to complete loss of vision. Despite his inability to see, Wonder taught himself to play a plethora of instruments and his talents were quickly discovered by Ronnie White and Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. at the age of 11. Throughout his 57 years as a musician, Stevie Wonder has used his international expertise. platform to call attention to improving services for people with disabilities, advocate for anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa, and lead the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a public holiday in the United States . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayThere is no denying that Stevie Wonder is a renowned musician as he has racked up dozens of major hits and number one singles during his career. career, not to mention 25 Grammy Awards. You should also know that Wonder is also a recognized philanthropist and humanitarian. In 2009, the United Nations named him a UN Messenger of Peace, with a focus on advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. In this role, in addition to using his own self-created platform, Wonder has brought attention to improving services for people with disabilities around the world. An example of this is its role in the adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty. Convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Diplomatic Conference aimed at concluding a treaty aimed at facilitating access to published works by visually impaired people and people who have difficulty reading printed texts was held in June 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco. The Department of Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco stated that “music legend Stevie Wonder called on more than 600 negotiators from WIPO's 186 member states to finalize their discussions in the coming days and conclude a new international treaty… » In a video statement to negotiators. , Wonder said: “We are at the dawn of a momentous period in history. All of you – great minds representing governments around the world – have the opportunity to right a wrong,” going on to say: “The time has come… Blind and visually impaired people around the world are counting on you. I'm counting on you. Don't let me down. But above all, don’t let them down.” The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted by the international copyright community on June 27, 2013. In September, a few months after calling on negotiators, Stevie Wonder met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and makes a statement on the goals of people with disabilities. He said: “For society and development to be inclusive for people with disabilities, we must have equal access to education, knowledge and information,” including highlighting the lack of technology and books in accessible formats for the visually impaired in both countries. developed and developing countries. “I know that by working together, we can create a world in which people with disabilities face no limitations – and can freely live, work, enjoy life and contribute their talents to society… We must ensure that the real participation and voice of people with disabilities are taken into account. includedin everything we do for peace and development in the world. At the 57th Annual Academy Awards in March 1985, Stevie Wonder received the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "I Just Called To Say I Love You" in the film The Woman in Red, which he accepted on behalf by Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned at the time, is famous for being a pioneer in the fight against apartheid, which is "the policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa." Not long after Wonder accepted his Oscar, the Broadcasting Corporation of South Africa, which controlled all television and radio programs there, banned his music. In response, he hired exiled South African musicians to play in the song "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" on his album In Square Circle, on which he sings: "You know apartheid is wrong, wrong/Like l 'slavery was wrong, wrong/Like the Holocaust was a mistake, a mistake/apartheid is a mistake, a mistake, a mistake. » The song is recognized for being an essential anti-apartheid song to address both the oppressed and the oppressors. The same year, on his 35th birthday, Stevie Wonder was honored by the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid. During the celebration, he gave a speech criticizing South Africa's resettlement policy under the Natives Resettlement Act, which allowed the transfer of blacks "from any area within the Johannesburg Magistrate District or any adjacent magisterial district and their installation elsewhere”. Wonder, speaking to the crowd, asked, "The relocation camps are bad and if they're so big why don't white people want to live there?" Much to Wonder's satisfaction, after years of supporting anti-apartheid efforts, including the time he was arrested at the South African embassy for protesting, government-imposed racial segregation ended in 1994. Three years later, in 1997, Wonder sang "Happy Birthday" to then-South African President Nelson Mandela during his 80th birthday celebration. Stevie Wonder was greatly inspired by the influential Martin Luther King, Jr. and his messages of unity and peace. After the tragic passing of King, Jr., Wonder made it a priority to attend his funeral. Many years later, although a few states declared a holiday on King Jr.'s birthday, Congress, despite the support of President Jimmy Carter, failed to enact a national holiday. After the bill's defeat, Stevie Wonder wrote the song "Happy Birthday" for Martin Luther King, Jr. and included it on his album Hotter Than July released in September 1980. Wonder sings: "I don't have it all simply never understood/How a man who died for good/could not have a day that would/would be set aside for his gratitude,” continuing with “For in peace our hearts will sing/Thank you to Martin Luther King.” » A year after the song debuted, Stevie Wonder held the Peace Rally press conference in Washington, D.C. to declare King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. Wonder said, "If Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is not a national holiday this year, we need to do it next year and again and again until it happens." Then-President Ronald Reagan made headlines when he approved the holiday to take place on the third Monday in January each year starting in 1986. Delighted, Stevie Wonder headlined the massive televised concert titled “A Celebration of the Stars in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.,” in which he sang “Happy Birthday” alongside multiple icons, including Diana.