The song "We Are the World" was made as a charity single to raise funds for famine relief in Africa, specifically addressing the devastating famine in Ethiopia from 1983 to 1985. The idea originated with American singer and activist Harry Belafonte, who was inspired by the British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Belafonte wanted a similar effort that included prominent Black artists to raise money and awareness for African famine relief and also hunger relief in the United States. Belafonte approached Lionel Richie to organize the effort, and Richie teamed up with Michael Jackson to write the song. Quincy Jones produced the project, and a supergroup of the era's most popular musicians came together to record it in January 1985. The song became an anthem for humanitarian aid, raising over $60 million and inspiring further charitable music initiatives. It was also meant to be an anthem conveying solidarity and a call to action to help those suffering from famine and hunger around the world.