In Book 3, Lewis becomes the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Lewis continues to remain active in the Civil Rights Movement but takes a less central stance. After the Birmingham Church Bombing of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is finally passed. They're trying to reach the hold-outs of staunch racism and segregation in the Deep South. It's 1961, and the Freedom Riders begin traveling South on public buses. Lewis moves, instead, to Nashville where he becomes involved with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, participating in sit-ins and spending some time in jail for his activities.īy Book 2, tensions in the South have risen to climax. King in the hopes of challenging the school's policy, but Lewis and his family decide not to pursue such a massive and potentially harmful lawsuit. He actually has the opportunity to speak with Dr. In college, Lewis attends the American Baptist Theological Seminary but decides to transfer to Troy University, an all white university. King, which was published in a local newspaper. Lewis even delivers his own sermon inspired by Dr. on the radio, becoming equally preoccupied with the Civil Rights Movement. He returns home and throws himself into his studies in school, even skipping out on work at home in order to go to school - a point of contention between he and his father which he wins. Seeing entire communities living in an unsegregated city was eye-opening for the kid. When he was young, Lewis got the chance to visit Buffalo, New York with his Uncle Otis. Lewis tells his life's story for these people. When one of the little boys comments on Lewis' various art pieces featuring chickens, he inadvertently triggers some memories for the congressman. Now it's 2009 and Lewis is well-established in the political arena.

This was in 1965.Īs he prepares to attend President Obama's inauguration, congressman John Lewis meets a family there to tour his office. The state troopers use tear gas and brute force to beat back the protestors when they refuse to stop. It's 'Bloody Sunday' when civil rights activists march on the bridge to protest segregation and Jim Crow. Written by people who wish to remain anonymousīook 1 opens with a young John Lewis standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

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