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NEWorks Productions Commemorates 61st Anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' with 'Just Like Selma' Anthem
Grammy-nominated artists Zacardi Cortez and Beverly Crawford join historic Houston choir for powerful civil rights song
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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As civic leaders and social justice advocates gather in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday, NEWorks Productions is releasing a new anthem called 'Just Like Selma.' The stirring a cappella hymn features Grammy-nominated gospel artists Zacardi Cortez and Beverly Crawford, along with the 130-voice Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir in Houston, and commemorates the historic 1965 Selma marches and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The song also serves as a soundtrack for the Freedom Advances civic engagement initiative to raise awareness about the importance of voting.
Why it matters
The 'Just Like Selma' song and project aim to honor the legacy of the civil rights movement and inspire continued civic engagement and voter mobilization, especially ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The hymn evokes the spirit of traditional civil rights anthems while speaking to urgent challenges around voting rights and racial justice today.
The details
The 'Just Like Selma' song was composed by award-winning producer Nolan Williams Jr. and features Grammy-nominated gospel artists Zacardi Cortez and Beverly Crawford, along with the 130-voice Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir in Houston. More than 135 churches, chapels, choirs, and organizations across 20 denominations and three-fourths of the U.S. have joined the 'Just Like Selma' Hymn-sing Project to use the song as a teaching tool. The project has been endorsed by major Baptist conventions.
- The 61st anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' is being commemorated from Thursday, March 5, through Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Selma, Alabama.
- The 'Just Like Selma' song and video were released in early 2026.
The players
NEWorks Productions
A production company that is releasing the 'Just Like Selma' anthem and civic engagement initiative.
Nolan Williams Jr.
An award-winning producer who composed the 'Just Like Selma' song.
Zacardi Cortez
A Grammy-nominated gospel artist featured on the 'Just Like Selma' song.
Beverly Crawford
A Grammy-nominated gospel artist featured on the 'Just Like Selma' song.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir
A 130-voice choir from Houston, Texas that is featured on the 'Just Like Selma' song.
What’s next
The 'Just Like Selma' song and video will be featured as part of the programming for the 61st anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama from March 5-8, 2026.
The takeaway
The 'Just Like Selma' project aims to honor the legacy of the civil rights movement and inspire continued civic engagement and voter mobilization, especially ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, through a powerful new anthem that evokes the spirit of traditional civil rights music.
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