“I’m really excited for people to see it,” H.E.R. said of the performance when introducing it during the Oscars pre-show. “It’s very powerful and very important to me.

During the second half of the performance, a fleet of masked dancers — dressed, like the band, in a uniform of black leather — filled the stage, punctuating the performance with movement. The performance ended with these dancers raising their fists, while two banners proclaiming “power to the people” waved.

“We were listening to Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, we listened to a lot of Sly and the Family Stone, some of my favorites,” H.E.R. told The Hollywood Reporter of the track in February. “I picked up the bass thinking about this theme of fighting for something. Because there’s so many things that Fred Hampton was fighting for and that we are all still fighting for.”