John Lewis, was a civil rights leader, an author, and an icon. He is remembered as the youngest of the “Big Six” leaders of the civil rights movement. John Lewis is an inspiration and the things he accomplished will make him admired throughout American and the world's history. He was born in Alabama in 1940, he grew up on his family’s farm and would often preach to his chickens! He attended segregated schools growing up and was discouraged by his parents and grandparents to break the segregation rules. Though at a young age he was attracted and inspired by activism from MLK Jr. Montgomery Bus boycott which he heard on the radio as well as Rosa Parks.
During the height of the civil rights movement he was named chairman of the student nonviolent coordinating committee. The SNCC played a big role in student activism. While he was there he organized sit ins at segregated restaurants in Nashville and other places. He was also a part of the Freedom Riders and was severely beaten by angry mobs and arrested by police for challenging Jim Crow laws in the south.
By 1963 he was named one of the big six leaders of the civil rights movement and was also a speaker at the historic and iconic March, in Washington D.C (where MLK Jr. said his ‘I have a dream’ speech). Though, John Lewis is known most for his march for the right of the minority vote. Fifty five years ago, Hosea Williams and John Lewis led 600 peaceful protesters to Edmend Pettus bridge in Selma Alabama to perform one of their most successful but tragic protests. Their plan was to walk to Montgomery as a peaceful way to demonstrate the need to vote but were attacked by Alabama police, this day would go down in history as “bloody Sunday.” The pictures and broadcasts from this showed the cruelty and hatred of the south and influenced the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the 60’s he was arrested 40 times. As a congressman he was arrested another 5 times. He said (in an interview in 2016) “I’m probably gonna get arrested again. But you have to be prepared. You may beat me, you may arrest me and throw me in jail. I almost died on that bridge for the right to vote. I gave a little blood, but others gave their lives.”
After leaving SNCC, later on he became director of the VEP. Voter Education Project, this helped sign up 4 million minority voters. Then in 1981 he was elected to Atlanta’s city council. In 1986, he was elected into congress and served in the House of representatives until the time of his passing.
Because of his heroic acts John Lewis was the recipient for many awards celebrating his courageous acts. Like, the highest civilian honor from President Obama, the Medal of Freedom, the MLK Jr. Nonviolent peace prize, the only John F. Kennedy “Profile in Courage Award” and many more. As well as a civil rights icon, John Lewis was also the author of the award winning series “March” which is a graphic novel about the civil rights movement and the march to Selma. When he was a kid he had a comic book called, MLK Jr, The Montgomery story and he said that it became a “roadmap" for his life in activism. He hoped “March” will be a roadmap for the future generations of activists and change makers.
Without the bravery and and courageousness of John Lewis who knows when minority communities would’ve had the right to vote. John Lewis said “The vote is precious, it is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent instrument or tool that we have in our democratic society we should make it easy and simple for everybody to participate.” John Lewis is an icon that will be remembered throughout all of America’s history, he said: “ I met Rosa Parks in 1957 when I was 17, 1958 I met Dr. King and these two individuals inspired me to get into trouble and I’ve been getting into good trouble, necessary trouble ever since.”
Congressman John Lewis had a willingness to stand up for all people. He fought tirelessly for the right to vote but also fought for immigrant rights, he led sit-ins for gun control, and much more. Whenever he saw democracy being taken away from anyone, he was there. Just recently, the voting act that Congressman John Lewis and so many others shed their blood for, has been gutted. Rights have been taken away from minorities and we are seeing new evidence of voter suppression everyday. To those who are giving their condolences, it is a disgrace if you are not also taking action.
In July 2020, John Lewis’s body was carried in a casket draped in the American flag over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, one last time. This bridge, named after a confederate general who was a leader of the Ku Klux Klan, is now remembered as a milestone in the civil rights movement, where people fought with their lives for the right to vote.
John Lewis, when the day comes when we desperately need someone to guide us through difficult situations, we know you will be with us. Your legacy and powerful words will help us fight the upcoming battles and dream of a world in which we are equal. Rest in power, peace, and love Congressman John Lewis, we promise to continue to fight the fight you fought and get into some good trouble.
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