Good, Necessary Trouble
This global pandemic caused us to be reawakened to the ugly truth of the system on which America stands, and the people it has for so long neglected. As we begin to reckon with racial injustices and oppression as a country, we have witnessed an endless deluge of nationwide protesting.
"Good, Necessary Trouble" examines the role music plays in protesting injustice and in the telling of the stories from our history. This free virtual concert and conversation discusses what it means to use music as a catalyst for change.
This virtual concert premiered on Saturday, September 26, and is now available for on-demand streaming.
ABOUT THE EVENT
“Good, Necessary Trouble” features performances by Amaiya Holley, Makeda Loney, To Music;, Cameo Humes, Leah Dexter, John A. Bitoy III, and Tiana Sorenson, accompanied by a live panel discussion featuring Kyle Dickson, Danielle “Yelley” Taylor, and Kedrick Armstrong. Make the most out of this virtual concert by downloading our program book.
“My philosophy is very simple: when you see something that is not right, not fair, not just...say something! Do something! Get in trouble! Good trouble! Necessary trouble!”
A tribute to John Lewis
The inspiration for tomorrow's concert is Rep. John Lewis. Born in Alabama, he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington in 1963 at the age of 23. Footage of him being beaten by police in Selma expedited the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, and he was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee until 1966, which was famous for organizing lunch counter sit-ins in North Carolina and Tennessee. He served as a congressman in the state of Georgia for 33 years before he passed of pancreatic cancer in July of this year, where he was widely considered to be the conscience of Congress. Rep. Lewis lived his life intent on getting into "good trouble." He was arrested 40 times between 1960-1966 and was routinely beaten unconscious by police. This streak of good trouble and fierce independence followed him to Congress, where not only did he boycott the inaugurations of George W. Bush and Donald Trump, but also the Million Man March organized by Louis Farrakhan, saying his statements were "divisive and bigoted." He famously led the sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2016 protesting government inaction in the wake of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, and was extremely vocal during the impeachment hearings of Donald Trump, reminding his colleagues of their obligation to stand up in the face of wrong doings and cast the right vote. We feel humbled and honored to offer this concert as a tribute in the shadow of such a giant.