Ideas change everything

"Redemption Song"

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John Legend |

TED2016

• February 2016

John Legend is on a mission to transform America's criminal justice system. Through his Free America campaign, he's encouraging rehabilitation and healing in our prisons, jails and detention centers -- and giving hope to those who want to create a better life after serving their time. With a spoken-word prelude from James Cavitt, an inmate at San Quentin State Prison, Legend treats us to his version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." "Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?"

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

John Legend is on a mission to transform America's criminal justice system. Through his Free America campaign, he's encouraging rehabilitation and healing in our prisons, jails and detention centers -- and giving hope to those who want to create a better life after serving their time. With a spoken-word prelude from James Cavitt, an inmate at San Quentin State Prison, Legend treats us to his version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." "Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?"

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Learn more about #FREEAMERICA, a multi-year culture campaign initiated by John Legend to change the national conversation about America's misguided criminal justice policies.

About the speaker

Singer, musician, composer

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With his philanthropic work, John Legend is leveraging his stardom to raise social consciousness and make a positive impact on a global scale.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Learn more about #FREEAMERICA, a multi-year culture campaign initiated by John Legend to change the national conversation about America's misguided criminal justice policies.