Activists: Van Jones

Van Jones is the CEO of REFORM Alliance and host of The Redemption Project and The Van Jones Show on CNN. A celebrated author and speaker, Jones has been a leader in the fight for criminal justice reform for more than 25 years. For Black History Month 2020, Van Jones created a playlist featuring some of his favorite songs, including Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “I Get Out” and “Free” by Prince. “All oppressed people can relate to the feeling of being trapped, labeled, and judged, and Ms. Lauryn Hill brings this to life so beautifully,” Jones says. “A lot of people don’t fully understand or appreciate Prince’s deep love for the black community or how much of himself he gave to the African-American struggle for freedom.”