Furthermore, he realized that apartheid was something fundamentally wrong because of wrong logic. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. At its best, the book provides a testament to the power of nonviolence in social movements, with moving personal accounts of the Freedom Rides, such as when Lewis describes being physically beaten in South Carolina or sitting out a 40-day sentence in the unrelenting Parchman Farm prison in Mississippi. Nearly all the grandfathers of African Americans were condemned to slavery, so the grandchildren needed to register afresh. His new book is titled "Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change." LEWISWell, I was surprised at the statement and discussion of Mayor Booker. Inspiring Youll want to put into practice what youve read immediately. Discover your next favorite book with getAbstract. And to see these young people -- I shouldn't get into name -- I shouldn't start calling colleges and universities, but they understand. Eye opening Youll be offered highly surprising insights. Just like John Lewis and his counterparts inspired from the previous battles, activists in current times can take the civil rights movement as a template to influence the conditions in their world favorably. A short book with the wisdom of a prophet and the compassion of one who has sacrificed all for the cause of peace and justice. And Dr. King said, we'll make it from Selma to Montgomery and the voting rights act will be passed. Each one reflects on these major lessons, providing both an inspiring introduction to a particular aspect of nonviolence and short anecdotes from Lewis's own life. Instead, such violence would conceal Wilsons fault and it would be much harder for him to realize his guilt and accept it boldly. LEWISMore than three million people showed up at the polls at the last national election, and they were turned away. Thus, when the citizens of Alabama came to him and asked him to be the leader of their action, he was prepared. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., he joined the burgeoning civil rights movement. I went to University of New Hampshire Law School, the University of Connecticut Law School. DAVIDWhat I wanted to call about is when I teach media history, we talk about the coverage of Pettus Bridge broke on the media and interrupted the Nuremberg trial the first time it was shown on network television. African American Studies And The Politics Of Ron DeSantis, Whats Next In The Fight Over Abortion Access In The US, Tyre Nichols and A New Push for Police Reform. If there was ever a book I needed at a certain time, it was this one. What we need to do is to embrace it and not be afraid. He participated in the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1963 to . Speak up and then move your feet, make some noise. But we shouldn't be going around putting people down because of their age, race, class. Feel free to join us on Facebook or Twitter. As I hope to pursue a career in politics and/or the legal system, I can see myself coming back to this book many times throughout my life. This was one of the gloomiest times of the American civil rights movement. For instance he spent many pages on the idea that change takes time, reformers will need to be patient. LEWISWell, thank you so much. (202) 885-1231 I see some truth in his ideas, but his core beliefs are so liberal that it causes me to be a little skeptical about his practical advice. In Across That Bridge, Congressman John Lewis draws from his experience as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful principles for anyone interested in challenging injustices and inspiring real change toward a freer, more peaceful society. LEWISI don't think the black caucus issued any statement concerning the Treyvon Martin shooting. As a conservative and a Lutheran, I have a much lower opinion of human nature. The tale of John Lewis is sufficient to demonstrate that since he went through verbal swears, assassinations, and 40 arrests. He successfully guided activists along the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama where they encountered armed state soldiers. In the final book published before his passing, Across That Bridge, Congressman John Lewis draws from his experience as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful principles for anyone interested in challenging injustices and inspiring real change toward a freer, more peaceful Conduct of life. You visit the reservations, the way Native Americans have been treated. LEWISI thought I saw death. I believe that we are all a spark of the divine, and if that spark is nurtured it can become a burning flame, an eternal force of light. REHMWe have an email here from Alex who wants to know "your feelings regarding the African American community's overall opposition to gay marriage. Martin Luther King Jr., as members of the Congressional Black Caucus gather for the memorial ceremony for the late . His wife, his family are there. I'm going to continue to speak about the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. LEWISWell, I think it's important for those of us who support marriage equality to continue to talk with these ministers, continue to educate them, to inform them. RIP John Lewis and THANK YOU! The casket of Rep. John Lewis moves over the Edmund Pettus Bridge by horse drawn carriage during a memorial service for Lewis in Selma, Ala., on July 26, 2020. From that organization, Parks learned about events and protests that activists designed to spotlight segregation on the public transit system. This clause let anybody vote without any obstacle if their grandfathers had the right to vote. getAbstract offers a free trial to qualifying organizations that want to empower their workforce with curated expert knowledge. Let's go to Indianapolis. It's not as prevalent as before, but I feel like it's still underlining my generation particularly. Look at Lewis fellow and counterpart Rosa Parks. People die for that right. I had been through many, many peaceful, nonviolent protests and had never ever witnessed anything like that. I was hit in the head by a state trooper with a billy club and had a concussion there on the bridge. Why must we be the ones? I learned so much about the Civil Rights movement, and what's more, the lessons he provides are timely today for the desire for change we see percolating in our society. To vote is the most precious instrument we have in a democratic society. These are the little lessons that the book tries to talk about -- speak about. And these young people, they get the message of the civil rights movement. That's not good for our society. LEWISBut people just too quiet. LEWISWell, the Voting Rights Act is being challenged. In a new book titled "Across that Bridge," Congressman Lewis draws on lessons learned as a leader of the civil rights movement in the '60s, to inspire today's grass roots activists fighting for social, economic and political change. For beginners Youll find this to be a good primer if youre a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge. *getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. Technological advances have made many things easier, yet trying to concentrate has become considerably more difficult. Since that dreadful day, America has made a big improvement in closing the racial gap. Are you sure you want to remove the highlight? Lewis's Vision for Change" is outstanding. REHMYou have to, of course, have all the facts. Across that Bridge is beautiful and inspiring book. Lewis makes frequent references to examples from history, and the words of peaceful leaders of the past, to support his points. And I along with seven other members of Congress, we have followed suit to declare the filibuster unconstitutional. I was at Brown University. An instance of the success of the movement could be observed in the talk of Lewis about the bad old days with kids of the partitioned South. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner. Do you recall the times that Barack Obamas election is thought to be a gate to post-racial America? Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the civil rights leader stands beneath a bust of Rev. I'm Diane Rehm. They explain how he was able to face down violence and respond in a non-violent manner to people who thought he was their enemy, and later offer his opponents love and reconciliation. That's not good. Lewis, John, 1940 February 21-United States. It was not a coincidence that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader of the movement. This book review will illuminate the vision of freedom of John Lewis, first-hand. We would destroy you the same way they tried to destroy President Clinton, and they didn't stop until they had a victory, until they took over the majority in the House and they want to win the White House back at any cost. A book from 2012 that is so appropriate at this time in our country. The American people were moved. Lewis paid his price by having his skull broken by the police, a run over him by horses, threatened by dogs, repelled with fire hoses, worn manacles, and put to prison. When this president was reelected -- well, first elected, I should say, he inspired people not only in America, but all over the world, and we should embrace it. I think he led the House in a different direction, led us to a different place. drpodcast@wamu.org, 4401 Connecticut Avenue NW|Washington, D.C. 20008|(202) 885-1200. Though our hearts are broken, LOVE and compassion will help us heal and move forward. In 2014 Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in The Atlantic that he planned to refuse medical treatment after age 75. The president acted, and the Congress acted, and we got the voting rights in 1965. Why risk beating, torture, even death to sacrifice ourselves within the network of our family, on our jobs, in our communities, the nation, or the world at large for the sake of progress we may not live to see? We are not there yet. A beautiful book, and a very teachable book. However, encouraging humankind to allow their light glow is not initiated by Lewis. Your playing small doesnt serve the world. There is constant digital Good Book Summary is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Its dangerous to the future of the republic for us to let this happen. African American studies course. All rights reserved. The triumph of truth. I was wearing a backpack, Diane, before it became fashionable to wear a backpack. (Thanks Laura!) We're committed to helping #nextgenleaders. Today, we are still racially divided although we work together and we go to school and we play, but our hearts and our minds still seem to be from the past. Civil rights workers > United States > Biography. You say there is a unique hostility in these times that almost seems worse to me than what we experienced in the 1960s. You know, we talk an awful lot in this country about voting and the people who do vote, the people who don't vote, the people who now cannot vote. I take a little bit of -- I guess I get a little bit bristled when I hear the congressman speak in such eloquent tones today of how we should be more civil and less divisive, et cetera, et cetera. REHMJohn Lewis, member of the United States Congress from the Fifth District in Georgia. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. Lewis devoted his life to stimulate his companion people to turn their inner sparks into fires. Faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and reconciliation: these are the buckets into which Lewis pours his message about the inner transformation that must be realized to effect lasting social change. A civil rights pioneer and Georgia congressman, Lewis (Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of a Movement) seeks to inspire nonviolent activism in a time that he regards as the most violent in history. A beautiful book. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson, Truth: The truth is incontrovertible. The more I learn about this great American leader, the more I admire him. ESAGood morning, Diane. And then all of a sudden, it shows that he's getting -- he did get beat up. We need to make it as simple as possible for people to be able to participate. So many gave so much that seems to have been forgotten. He's a person of tremendous faith and he believes that we all are brothers and sisters, that we're one people, we're one family with one house. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. I've long held this position and I attend a lot of churches in my district in Georgia. He did not get angry at the racism, it attracted his attention. With an engaged electorate once again confronting questions of social inequality, there's no better time to revisit the lessons of the '60s and no better leader to learn from than Congressman John Lewis. Individuals, members of the caucus, like other members of Congress and other black leaders took position, but I don't think the black caucus took a position. REHMHow would you feel about the introduction and the support for a third party in this country? Faith motivated Rosa Parks, who famously refused to surrender her seat to a white person on a segregated busin Montgomery, Alabama. Across that bridge : life lessons and a vision for change by Lewis, John, 1940 February 21- . And it was like what I would call the essence of the beloved community. Members of Congress, like the president, we should be leaders. He does go back to his home in Georgia probably every weekend. And they waited silently as a line at the Registrars Office of Selma for two years. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. REHMAnd do you agree with our caller that racial slurs were never LEWISNo, I do not agree because some members did hear racial slurs and people were calling people names. Till the 1960s, to prevent African Americans from using their rights, the government of the Alabama State and the Ku Klux Klan tried every way they could. Of course, he was gifted. I was at Harvard. The late US Rep. John Robert Lewis made his final journey on Sunday across the famous bridge in Selma, Alabama, where the towering civil rights figure helped lead a march for voting rights. A contrast is called to mind between the aimless rioting and looting seen in present day, and the studied, planned, non-violent approaches of the earlier era, that led to an end of segregation and other injustices in the American South. Rep. John Lewis discusses his comic book series March in this special edition of A Word on . He died on July 17, 2020. Across That Bridge (2017) is a poignant account from one of America's most powerful activists on the qualities that protestors need to embody to bring about lasting change. They persisted so patiently to get their rights that the abuse and brutality of police became ridiculous. They were hit, disparaged with words, and imprisoned. I'm Diane Rehm. LEWISBrian, I cannot agree with you more. We will feel less. REHMAnd when you say it goes back to Newt Gingrich, who is still very much on the scene, what do you mean? They're able, reliable, well-learned men and women of color. Hot Topic Youll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue. I just re-read this book for a class I'm teaching this semester on the history, philosophy, and practice of nonviolence. How do you see their conversion, if you will? Let's go to Esa in Annapolis, Md. His conviction is cultivated while he is raised in the middle of the brutality and fright of the partitioned deep South. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. You're on the air. This book provides tremendous insight on how to have a more fulfilling life. LEWISWhen I saw and read what happened and how it happened, it made me very sad. IN COLLECTIONS . This is the strongest testament of Lewis for the strength of love in the face of brutal hate. 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