John Lewis, born on 21 February 1940 in rural Alabama, was a prominent civil rights leader and politician known for his tireless activism, dedication to social justice, and unwavering commitment to nonviolent protest. As the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a leader of the historic Selma March, John Lewis left an indelible mark on American history and inspired generations of activists.
Early life and education
John Robert Lewis was born near Troy, Alabama, to a family of sharecroppers. Growing up in the Jim Crow-era South, Lewis experienced firsthand the injustices and racial segregation that plagued the region. Despite his parents’ caution against challenging the status quo, the young Lewis found inspiration in the brave defiance of civil rights icons Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
After expressing interest in desegregating Troy State College (now Troy University), Lewis was encouraged to attend school in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he studied at the American Baptist Theological Institute and Fisk University, eventually earning a BA in religion and philosophy in 1967. During his time in Nashville, Lewis began to immerse himself in the study of nonviolent protest and joined the burgeoning civil rights movement.
Involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Sit-ins and Freedom Rides
While at school in Nashville, Lewis participated in sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, challenging the deeply ingrained racial divides in public spaces. In 1961, he took part in the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the South that aimed to test the enforcement of federal desegregation laws at interstate bus terminals. During these rides, Lewis was repeatedly beaten and arrested, foreshadowing the personal sacrifices and physical dangers he would face throughout his activism.
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
In 1963, John Lewis was elected as the chairman of SNCC, replacing Chuck McDew. He held this position until 1966 when Stokely Carmichael succeeded him as the organisation began to adopt a more militant approach. As chairman, Lewis played a crucial role in organising and participating in numerous civil rights events, including the March on Washington in 1963. His prominence within the movement led to his inclusion in the “Big Six” leaders, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, A. Phillip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young.
Freedom Summer
In 1964, Lewis led SNCC’s efforts to register African American voters and organise communities in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer project. This initiative aimed to empower black citizens in the South and challenge the discriminatory voting practices that disenfranchised them.
Bloody Sunday and the Selma March
On 7 March 1965, John Lewis and Hosea Williams led a group of peaceful demonstrators in a march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capitol in Montgomery, advocating for voting rights. This march, however, was violently halted by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, an event that would become known as “Bloody Sunday.” The brutality experienced by the marchers, including Lewis, who suffered a fractured skull, shocked the nation and galvanised support for the civil rights movement.
The public outrage in response to Bloody Sunday contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 6 August 1965. This landmark legislation aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans and was a significant victory for the civil rights movement.
Post-SNCC activism and political career
Voter Education Project
After leaving SNCC, Lewis remained dedicated to advancing civil rights and social justice. In the early 1970s, he served as the director of the Voter Education Project, working to further the cause of voter registration and education among minority communities.
Role in the Carter administration
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Lewis as the head of ACTION, a federal volunteer agency encompassing programs such as the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). This role allowed Lewis to continue advocating for social change on a national level.
Atlanta City Council and US Congress
John Lewis entered the realm of electoral politics in 1981, serving as an Atlanta city councilman. In 1986, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, representing a district that included Atlanta. As a congressman, Lewis continued championing civil rights, social justice, and progressive causes throughout his long and distinguished career.
Honours and Awards
Throughout his life, John Lewis received numerous accolades for his civil rights and social justice contributions. Among these honours were the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize (1975), the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award (2001), the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal (2002), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011).
Lewis also authored several memoirs, including Walking with the Wind (1998; co-written with Michael D’Orso) and the March trilogy (2013, 2015, and 2016; co-written with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell), a graphic novel series for young adults based on his experiences in the civil rights movement. The final instalment of the series won the National Book Award (2016), and Lewis and Aydin shared a Coretta Scott King Book Award (2017).
John Lewis: Good Trouble documentary
In 2020, the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble was released, chronicling the life and career of the civil rights leader. This film serves as a testament to Lewis’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality, as well as a tribute to the impact he had on the nation.
Death and legacy
John Lewis passed away on 17 July 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was mourned by many, who remembered him as the “conscience of Congress” and a tireless advocate for social justice.
Lewis was the first African American lawmaker to lie in state in the rotunda of the US Capitol, and numerous political figures, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, attended his funeral.
During the funeral, Obama eulogised Lewis, calling him a man of “unbreakable perseverance” who embodied the quintessentially American idea that ordinary people can challenge the status quo and work together to make the nation align more closely with its highest ideals.
In a valedictory essay published by The New York Times on the day of his funeral, Lewis praised the Black Lives Matter movement and offered guidance to future activists, urging them to “answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.”
John Lewis’s life and work stand as a powerful testament to the strength of nonviolent protest and the enduring struggle for civil rights and social justice in America. His unwavering dedication to these causes will continue to inspire generations of activists and serve as a beacon of hope for a more equitable future.
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