Mario Van Peebles on We The Party

A. "2012 was huge for our family, after getting the movie in theatres my three big kids went off to college. Then I got a call from the Obama Campaign to be a surrogate for our president in the swing state of Florida. My son Makaylo plays a student nicknamed Obama in We the Party. My eldest daughter Maya plays a prom queen named Michelle. And my son Mandela who is named after President Nelson Mandela plays my son in the film. It only seemed right with all these political names that I invite the kids to come along and help as well. 

In Florida, we spoke at churches, knocked on doors and handed out food and water to people waiting in five to eight hour lines just to vote. The kids saw first hand that even though it’s our constitutional right as citizens to vote, people will sometimes try to discourage you. Democracy is kind of like a car, if you take your foot off the gas it slows down. Florida was close but in the end Obama got it. 

2012 was historic in so many ways for everybody. Maybe in 2013 I'll kick back a little, enjoy my nearly empty nest and think about what'€™s next."

(Photo: Courtesy of Mario Van Peebles)