The Department of African-American Studies at Georgia State University joins Atlanta, the nation and the world in celebrating the life of Congressman John Lewis, an audacious activist and statesman who championed democracy, civil and human rights for more than a half-century. Furthermore, we acknowledge the loss of Civil Rights titan and democratic thought-leader, Rev. C.T. Vivian, whose contributions include the federally-funded Upward Bound program, a program that has catapulted a multitude of first-generation students to overcome class, academic and social barriers by providing access and support to a quality education—a fundamental principle of civil and human rights. Their life’s work—in the company of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King—embodies the social gospel that “the greatest amongst us shall be servants.” These men, along with countless other women and men, challenged this nation to live up to its greatness. Their transitions, only hours apart, mark a passing of the baton to a new generation of critical citizens, activists, leaders, and scholars who are all cultivated in the enduring protest spirit of Africana Studies. We are inspired by the lives of Lewis and Vivian and commit to the hard work of honoring their incredible legacies in our own service to the community, the nation and the world.