I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.

2020 has been quite the rough year.

This past Friday, civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis passed away. This came the same day as the death of another civil rights legend, C.T. Vivian. It’s crazy that two of the most influential members of the Civil Rights Movement that were still living passed on the same day during the midst of another period of racial discord and American reckoning.

Although I never got a chance to personally meet Rep. Lewis (I’ve been lucky enough to meet several civil rights leaders like Andrew Young, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Jesse Jackson and others during my college years), I have been touched by the difference he made and the legacy he has left. What brought this even further home was the fact that I just recently reviewed the new documentary that takes a behind-the-scenes peek at Lewis’ life, “John Lewis: Good Trouble” for AwardsCircuit and felt like I got a chance to really get to know the man. I remember finishing the film and feeling like he had a lot more fight in him and he would continue to lead the good fight for years to come! I am saddened that won’t be the case. At a time like this we need his optimism, wisdom and leadership more than ever.

I hope going forward that we will follow the example led by Lewis and Vivian and hopefully, America will come to grips with its past and the lingering effects of that history and move forward to a better, more inclusive future.

So remember, go out and continue to “make good trouble!”