In 2018 I had the privilege of meeting the late, great John Lewis. He was speaking at a Black History program. I remember hearing him tell our audience that although we’ve come a long way, we still have a long road ahead of us.
He said we need to “get in trouble,” “good trouble”, “necessary trouble”. The trouble he was referring to was fighting the injustices that people of color faced based solely on the pigment of their skin.
Mr. Lewis devoted his entire life to dismantling systemic racism. He believed the Right to Vote was a sacred process where every vote and voter was counted equally.
According to Mr. Lewis, “In a democratic society, voting is the most powerful, non-violent instrument or tool that we have.”
As I listened closely to every word, I sat riveted on the edge of my seat. Now I want to share these insights with you:
Good Trouble: It’s ok to get into good trouble. As cliché as it may sound, I too believe in getting into good trouble. The only way to make a real difference is for people to have the courage to go against the status quo.
Take Initiative: If you want something done, sometimes you must do it yourself. President Barack Obama once said “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We can change what we seek”
As the CEO of A Little Bit of HOPE I am inspired by Mr. Lewis’ thoughts on getting into Good Trouble. He and President Obama’s words echo in my head reminding me on a daily basis to do my part to make the world a better place.
The mission of A Little Bit of Hope is to elevate the financial wellness of minority communities by introducing them to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). According to Georgetown University, a graduate with a STEAM degree will make an average of $65K+ annually over the course of their career. That is the good trouble that we seek to introduce.
Run towards the fear
Fear is one of the most crippling emotions we will ever face. None of us are perfect. We will say and do the wrong things for fear of the consequences. It’s human nature to fear the unknown. I would like to encourage you to run towards your fears. It might seem scary at first but facing your fears will unlock your greatest potential. Imagine how you could change the world if you simply weren’t scared.
Author: Justin Simpson, CEO A Little Bit of HOPE | [email protected]