Love. It comes in all colors was an American television and print public service ad filmed in the space of one hour on Sunday afternoon, December 7, 1969, and broadcast on American TV stations during 1970. Sponsored by the National Urban Coalition, it was part of an advertising campaign to promote racial harmony and featured political activists as well as celebrities from sports, show business, government and business.

Background

Produced by the advertising agency Ketchum, MacLeod & Grove and filmed at Manhattan's MPO Studios, the one-minute commercial showed an assembled group singing several repetitions for chorus to "Let The Sun Shine In" from Hair. The refrain speeds up as does the editing, trying to give everyone equal time and ends with applause by everyone. The words "Love. It comes in all colors." are then superimposed upon the screen. It was broadcast as a public service advertisement during shows such as the March 8, 1970 episode of The Ed Sullivan Show (Ed Sullivan having been one of the participants).

The performance was staged by film director Joshua Logan and musical director Mitch Miller.

Amiri Baraka, one of the 117 invitees who came for the filming, was present in the studio during the production, but refused to appear on-camera. Among the numerous notables who were sent an invitation to the filming, 28 made known their willingness to participate, but did not arrive. These included Muhammad Ali, Julian Bond, Dick Gregory, John Lindsay and Sidney Poitier.

  • C. T. Vivian (1924–2020)
  • Roy Wilkins (1901–1981)
  • Whitney Young (1921–1971)

Writers

  • Cleveland Amory (1917–1998)
  • Amiri Baraka (1934–2014) [was present during the filming, but refused to appear on-camera]
  • Topper Carew (born 1943), television writer, producer and director (Martin)
  • Harry Golden (1902–1981)
  • Bill Hosokawa (1915–2007)
  • Harry Kitano (1926–2002), scholar, musician and author

References

  • Article from New York magazine