What is UNITED?

UNITED is a human rights music video unlike any other. Its production included a 45,000-mile world tour covering four continents and 13 countries.  Two thousand volunteers, including 150 actors, contributed their time to this global endeavor. Director Taron Lexton was 19 years old when he created UNITED with a crew that consisted mostly of teenagers and pre-teens, making it truly a youth project. The film depicts an inner-city kid with a heart for basketball (played by 11-year-old Andre Boydon) who is confronted by a gang of bullies and their leader (Eric Forte), and has to fight for his right to play.  What makes UNITED a great human rights video is how Andre’s character accomplishes this, without violence. The film includes cameo performances by Isaac Hayes (South Park), Erika Christensen (Traffic, Upside of Anger), Jenna Elfman (Dharma and Greg, Keeping the Faith), Catherine Bell (JAG) and Lynsey Bartilson (Grounded for Life.) UNITED came about when, in early 2004, Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) asked Taron to create a new theme song and music video for YHRI. Taron and TXL Films produced it with the help of volunteers, groups and organizations in the community.  It was first shown inside the United Nations headquarters in New York in August 2004. UNITED is now available with subtitles in 15 languages and has aired in countries around the globe. Due to the explosive popularity of the music video, Youth for Human Rights International has since produced and distributed a special UNITED edition of What Are Human Rights? in 21 languages as a public service to children worldwide.

Watch UNITED Music Video in HD

Learn the UNITED song (lyrics)