Reflections of a Teenager in a Nation Divided
I was a teenager in the 1960s. Though I didn’t march in the streets or ride the buses for freedom, I remember vividly the scenes flashing across our black-and-white televisions: peaceful protestors beaten by police, sprayed with fire hoses, attacked by dogs. I remember the faces of children, clergy, college students—Black and white—who risked everything for a chance to be treated equally under the law. I remember those who were murdered for speaking out. And I remember the courage it took just to show up.
History Repeating Itself in the Trump Era
What strikes me today, decades later, is how much it feels like those times have returned.
The America we live in under the Trump regime has regressed in ways I never thought I’d see again. Racism is no longer whispered or hidden; it’s shouted from podiums, codified in policy, and enforced by those who once swore to uphold the Constitution. Trump’s administration and allies have been relentless in their assault on voting rights, diversity programs, and basic civil liberties—especially for Black Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and women. These are not isolated acts. They are part of a coordinated effort to roll back decades of progress.
To me, it’s all chillingly familiar.
The Enduring Legacy of John Lewis and MLK
During the Civil Rights Movement, leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis modeled a kind of courage that still resonates. They faced down hatred with peace, injustice with righteousness, violence with nonviolence. John Lewis, a man I came to deeply admire in his long and distinguished service in Congress, was nearly beaten to death on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Yet he never wavered. Until his final breath, he called on us to “make good trouble.” And he was right.
We need that kind of courage now.
The Supreme Court’s Betrayal of Civil Rights
Over the last 15 to 20 years, but especially in the Trump era, our country has slipped backward. The Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, arguing—absurdly—that racism in voting was no longer a problem. But across the South and in other red states, gerrymandering and restrictive voter ID laws have targeted Black communities with surgical precision. The intent is clear: silence the voices that most often demand justice.
Meanwhile, books are being banned. Black history is being erased from school curricula. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs—imperfect but necessary tools for justice—are being branded as “un-American.” But what could be more American than the pursuit of equality?
A Call to Action: Peaceful Resistance in Our Time
As I reflect on my youth, I can’t help but think of those who put everything on the line in the 1960s. We owe it to them—and to ourselves—to continue their work.
We must march. We must speak. We must write. We must vote.
We must resist.
And resistance doesn’t require fame or a platform. It begins with showing up. It begins with standing for something when others fall for anything. It begins with acts both large and small—writing an op-ed, making a phone call to your representative, speaking up at a city council meeting, mentoring a young activist, or simply correcting a lie when you hear one.
ThayerEditing: Amplifying the Voices of Justice
At ThayerEditing, my mission is to support those doing the work of resistance. Whether you’re crafting a newsletter, a speech, or a social media campaign, I want to help you sharpen your message and amplify your voice. The power of the written and spoken word has never been more essential.
We must fight the darkness not with violence but with truth. Not with despair, but with courage. Not with fear, but with faith in the American ideals we still believe are worth defending.
The Civil Rights Movement taught me that progress is never guaranteed. It must be fought for—again and again—with vigilance, determination, and love. We are in such a moment now. And we must answer the call.
As John Lewis urged us: “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Let’s get to it.
Call to Action:
Make good trouble. Write. March. Speak. Support civil rights groups, social justice movements, and voting rights organizations. Call and write your elected officials. Show up in your community—and encourage others to do the same. If you’re working on a message, speech, or campaign and want help refining your words, reach out to ThayerEditing. I’ll be ready to serve you soon.
