Member-only story

March One John Lewis: A Legacy of Civil Rights, Nonviolence, and Social Justice

Mario Benedetti

·12.8k Followers· Follow

Published in March: One John Lewis

5 min read

173 View Claps

15 Respond

Save

Listen

A Black And White Photo Of John Lewis Marching In Selma, Alabama, In 1965. He Is Wearing A Suit And Tie And Carrying A Sign That Reads March: One John Lewis

March: Book One

by John Lewis

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	189211 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	125 pages

Early Life and Education

John Robert Lewis was born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama. He was the son of Eddie Lewis, a sharecropper, and Willie Mae Lewis, a homemaker. Lewis grew up in poverty, and he often worked alongside his parents in the fields.

As a child, Lewis was deeply affected by the racism and segregation that was prevalent in the South. He was denied access to public facilities, and he was often subjected to verbal and physical abuse from white people.

Despite the challenges he faced, Lewis was a determined and ambitious young man. He excelled in school, and he graduated from high school at the top of his class. Lewis then attended Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee.

Civil Rights Activism

While at Fisk University, Lewis became involved in the civil rights movement. He joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC),a student-led organization that was committed to fighting for racial equality through nonviolent means.

Lewis played a key role in a number of SNCC campaigns, including the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington. In 1963, Lewis was one of the 13 original Freedom Riders who traveled through the South to challenge segregation on interstate buses. Lewis and the other Freedom Riders were met with violence and arrests, but they refused to give up.

The March on Washington was a massive demonstration for civil rights that took place in Washington, D.C., in 1963. Lewis was one of the featured speakers at the march, and he delivered a powerful speech that called for an end to racism and segregation.

Electoral Politics

After the March on Washington, Lewis continued to be involved in the civil rights movement. He worked to register black voters in the South and to help black candidates get elected to office.

In 1986, Lewis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Georgia's 5th congressional district. Lewis served in the House for 33 years, and he was a leading voice on issues such as civil rights, voting rights, and healthcare.

Lewis was a lifelong advocate for nonviolence, and he often spoke out against violence and hatred. He was also a strong supporter of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

Legacy

John Lewis was one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement. He dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality, nonviolence, and social justice. Lewis was a courageous and determined leader who made a lasting impact on the world.

Lewis died on July 17, 2020, at the age of 80. He was mourned by people around the world, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

* [John Lewis: Walking with the Wind](https://www.amazon.com/John-Lewis-Walking-Wind-Memoir/dp/0446676422) by John Lewis and Michael D'Orso * [March](https://www.amazon.com/March-Book-One-John-Lewis/dp/1419703825) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell * [The John Lewis Voting Rights Act](https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voting-rights-act) by the American Civil Liberties Union

March: Book One

by John Lewis

4.8 out of 5