On Sunday, his body crossed that bridge one last time. So people fear, they fear the future. Could you talk just briefly about President Carter and what he's personally meant to you? 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. BILLAnd just secondly real quick, could you speak briefly about my personal hero who you just mentioned, the 39th President of the United States who stood up during this period for civil rights, an area, as you well know, from Albany to Americus that was so difficult. He was getting ready through all of his life. Introduction: Some men see things as they are and say Why? I dream things that never were and say Why not? Robert F. Kennedy, Faith: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1, Patience: Without patience, we will learn less in life. This opening serves as a testament for where the March trilogy is headed. Here's a question for you from Brian, who says, "The right to vote is so critically important in our nation. We need people who have ability and capacity to lead. 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 . What was your reaction to that? Conduct of life. I was at Brown University. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. Across that bridge : life lessons and a vision for change by Lewis, John, 1940 February 21- . We don't know how to say I'm sorry, excuse me, pardon me. According to Dr. King, faith is useless if not aspires you to assist people in solving their hardships. While at times he comes off as overly optimistic about the future of America and the potentialities of people throughout the world, he lived a life that confirms what he says, and he earned that optimism. This is the reason he committed his life to this battle. The late Congressman John Lewis was a civil rights leader,best-selling author, and the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Lifetime Achievement Award. LEWISWell, thank you so much, sir. 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. Let's go to Columbus, Ohio. It's almost sacred. Thursday, Feb 16 2023The showdown in Florida over an A.P. I like to play soccer too :) Good Reads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/106467014-sava-ate, Employee to Entrepreneur by Steve Glaveski [Book Summary - Review]. The way to reach the truth is not only studying academically. Now 65, he and Diane revisit his provocative essay. Why participate in the work of justice at all? From the 12th annual National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Congressman John Lewis discusses his book, [Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change]. ESAGood morning, Diane. Lewis devoted his life to stimulate his companion people to turn their inner sparks into fires. 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. Enjoy 3 days of full online access to 25,000+ summaries The late John Lewis offers his thoughts on social activism in this short book. The most important lesson Congressman Lewis provides is the necessity of inner transformation. getAbstract offers a free trial to qualifying organizations that want to empower their workforce with curated expert knowledge. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning. While some of this felt just like what you'd expect (and have probably heard before) there were many moments where I found new insight, specifically when it came to the mindset of the activists in the civil rights movement. 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. The bridge stretches about 1,900 feet over I-5, landing at North Seattle College on the west side and at 1st Ave NE and NE 100th St, near the Northgate Station, serving Sound Transit's Link light rail station, on the east side. For instance he argues that people are born good, and that racism occurs because people have been poorly taught. Lots of people, including politicians and citizens, are not ready for this devotion. LEWISWell, I think the well was poisoned. At the peak of the bridge, they saw the State troopers and the assigned citizens of Alabama. 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. It would seem that every time I talk with a former politician, a former member of Congress, they've said to me that part of the reason they voluntarily left is that Capitol Hill is no longer a place where people can come together to do the best for America, that they come together now across lines in hostility. It doesn't matter whether they're black or white, Latino or Asian American or Native American, whether they are young or middle age or older, whether they are straight or gay. According to Lewis, this is named faith. WAYNEGood morning. REHMAnd surely that's got to be one of the life lessons that you talk about in "Across the Bridge.". They all support me. 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 . Summary (from Goodreads): "Although it has been decades since the historic social upheavals of the 1960s, Americans continue to look to the Civil Rights Movement as the apotheosis of political expression. The success of the civil rights movement could only become likely with the people like Lewis that committed to study, plan, and prepare for years. Lewis and his fellow Freedom Riders demonstrated love by silently resisting the anger of an insulting regime. We can talk about ending war and we can march for ending war, we can do everything in our power, but war is never going to end as long as our hearts are hardened against each other. Pema Chdrn, Love: We are all bound by the ties of love Even as there is cohesive force in blind matter so much must there be in all things animate and the name for that cohesive force among animate beings is Love. Mohandas Gandhi, Reconciliation: This little light of mine, Im going to let it shine. Harry Dixon Loes, Your email address will not be published. I love how devoted he was and is to nonviolent social change, how he continues to live the dream that many gave up on in the late 1960s, and his support of current civil rights issues of gay rights and educational equality. Now 65, he and Diane revisit his provocative essay. REHMAnd here is a question from Rye, N.H. Donna says, "I wonder what place race played into the Republican Congress, what they said about defeating the new president as their first priority at the beginning of President Obama's term.". The life of Representative John Lewis was inspirational. And President Lyndon Johnson made one of the most meaningful speeches than any American president had made in modern time eight days later on March 15, 1965. However, no matter what, they turned back and waited consistently every single day. The most inspiring book I read in 2013 was Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and A Vision for Change, by Congressman and Civil Rights legend, John Lewis. God bless you this morning. I often found myself highlighting Lewis' words while reading and making note of the advice he gives in each chapter. 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. REHMThanks for calling, Wayne. We will feel less. But yet then he speaks of his unbridled support of Mr. Obama and then yet Mr. Obama goes out and says the GOP want to poison your air, poison your water, throw grandma off the cliff and that's okay. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation. Background Youll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis. John Lewis discusses his comic book series MARCH on a special episode of NPT's A WORD ON WORDS. Agent: Bob Barnett. The more I learn about this great American leader, the more I admire him. LEWISI truly believe that something happened a few short years ago when my fellow Georgian became the speaker of the house, Mr. Gingrich. You say there is a unique hostility in these times that almost seems worse to me than what we experienced in the 1960s. John Robert Lewis was the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district, serving since 1987 and was the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. John Lewis grew up in an era of racial segregation. Hachette Books. This expression of regret would not have happened if Lewis has sued or defended himself with violence on that day. Students, fans and supporters of the civil rights movement repeatedly ask Congressman John Lewis the same question: How did you do it?Some wonder how Lewis and his peers pursued civil rights goals when they faced racism, police violence and jail sentences.Others ask how activists remained faithful to their lofty goals in the face of brutal hypocrisy. "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America." Lewis speaking atop the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 1, 2020 2. So I can only assume that Mr. Lewis agrees with that assessment and doesn't say anything about it. LEWISWell, I think, first of all, the president, the congressional black caucus and many other members of the Congress, especially (unintelligible), have always been supportive of trade relations with Africa, countries in Africa and other parts of the world. In 2014 Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in The Atlantic that he planned to refuse medical treatment after age 75. But can anything really change? The book outlines a process for peaceful protest. And he embraced the people that he grew up with, the black people in the community or Sumter County and Americus and Plains. Especially, you should design behaviors encompassing inclusion and inspiration, not exclusion and alienation. Its not a primer for non-violent change but rather a pathway to change. The president acted. Lewis, John. I did have a bridge in mind. 8 Very good. And he's just one of these rare human beings and he doesn't get the credit that he should be receiving. This book provides tremendous insight on how to have a more fulfilling life. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Martin Luther King Jr., as members of the Congressional Black Caucus gather for the memorial ceremony for the late . And they cry, they hug me, I cry and hug them back. I also wanted to thank him for being such a role model for college students (unintelligible) on that students can change the world for the better. John Lewis is an amazing human being, a true leader & has an unbelievable outlook on life today in America & the world which I find even more incredible because of the things he has lived through & endured. Noise by Joseph McCormack [Book Summary - Review]. 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. This right was not readily available for John Lewis. LEWISWell, you're right. The Civil Rights Movement, above all, was a work of love. He was arrested more than 40 times, physically attacked and jailed in the fight for desegregation. We can go back to where President Roosevelt left off and start a massive, a massive public work program. You should ask this question to yourself and answer it according to yourself. At the peak of the bridge, they saw the State troopers and the assigned citizens of Alabama. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria: Enlightening Youll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions. LEWISWell, President Carter has always acted according to his faith. IN COLLECTIONS . Reading this book has given me hope and has renewed my resolve to keep working. I'm going to continue to speak about the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. Clearly I am gushing with joy, excitement and love! It reminded me of Emmett Till in 1955 in the State of Mississippi. However, he also formed his persona knowingly. 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. Innovative You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends. So much wisdom, but a couple of my favorite quotes: In this jewel of a book, Rep. Lewis presents several categories which he suggests should be mastered in order to bring about meaningful change - to light the fire of a movement. This is primer on activism using Lewis life and the civil rights movement as examples. I fear for the future of our country. Let's go to Indianapolis. In Across That Bridge, Lewis draws from his experience as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless guidance to anyone seeking to live virtuously and transform the world. It takes time but it can be done. The author, John Lewis, is from a family consisting of sharecroppers in the South in the Jim Crow age and stood up to assist form the movement of civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After that, he was a leader. We're better people than that. TOMMYBlacks are aborting at five times the rate of whites. Best of all, its realistic. I went to University of New Hampshire Law School, the University of Connecticut Law School. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Good morning, Congressman Lewis. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. Join us on Facebook or Twitter. These inspirational essays describe the virtues and moral qualities that empowered the author in his fight against the injustices that denied equal rights and opportunities to African-American citizens of the United States. LEWISI thought I saw death. We were consciously aware that unity was our ultimate goal, and if that was truly our aim, we had come to grips with the fact that after all the warring was done, reconciliation, love, and forgiveness would have the final say.. I had a question. APA format Lewis, John. From Page 164, "Perhaps the variations in appearance and expression that seem to occupy so much of our concern--tall, short, black, brown, straight hair or curly, white or yellow, fat or slender, gay or straight--are more an expression of the broad imagination of the Creator than they are an indication of our value or worth.". Lots of pacifist protestors were ruthlessly battered, and hospitalization was needed for some of them. Political analyst Basil Smikle explains why education finds itself yet again at the center of national politics. I believe the true destiny of humankind is to recollect that it is light and to learn how to abide in infinite awareness of the divine in all matters of human affairs, Love is the willingness to sacrifice, to be beaten, to go to jail, to be killed for the betterment of society rather than live out your life in silence. REHMDid the congressional black caucus come out with statements regarding the shooting, the killing of Treyvon Martin? We'll take a short break here and when we come back, we'll talk further and take your calls. 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. Lewis had faith in love and peace to be the strongest weapons. Find a way to make a way out of no way. I found myself agreeing on much of what Rep. Lewis wrote, and I so want many others to read his vision for how to make our future better. What we need to do is to embrace it and not be afraid. People die for that right. The truth is more complex, and springs from Parkss faith. Furthermore, he realized that apartheid was something fundamentally wrong because of wrong logic. He just made a mistake. In my own view there needs to be what I like to call a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas, how we treat all of our citizens, all of our brothers and sisters. LEWISI think in America there's still a racial divide. The John Lewis Memorial bridge is a celebration of his life. Do you recall the times that Barack Obamas election is thought to be a gate to post-racial America? A book from 2012 that is so appropriate at this time in our country. He bears witness to the ways in which these practices came together in the Civil Rights Movement, and particularly in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, to create a context where the movement was modeling the kind of world it was striving to create. We should get all of the facts. In the end, these guns ruled the nation.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'goodbooksummary_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_18',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-narrow-sky-2-0'); Lewis was among the core 13 Freedom Riders. A young adult was murdered, but there's so much divide and I was surprised. 1 Review . REHMBut surely you're not saying that if President Obama loses the election that America would not continue to move forward. They persisted so patiently to get their rights that the abuse and brutality of police became ridiculous. It's the most -- it is the thing that controls everything that we do from the time that we're born until the time that we die in democratic society. We learned how to go to the Moon, but why could not we learn how to live peacefully together? I had the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in mind. John Lewis organized the March on Washington with MLK, served on the Atlanta City Council, and was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. But he says there is a unique hostility today that almost seems worse than what he experienced. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Moreover to all these, when Black people started to come for registration during the civil rights movement, the Registrars Office just shut down to prohibit this. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. You go into the large urban centers. King got over $50,000, in todays value approximately one-half of a million dollars, in1964 as Nobel Peace Prize. The project consists of 4 main parts: Bridge spans over I-5 Select the sections that are relevant to you. Lewis himself lived with a broken cranium that opened scars throughout his life. So if two men or two women fall in love and want to get married, they should be able to do just that. We rate each piece of content on a scale of 110 with regard to these two core criteria. More than fifty million of our citizens are not even registered to vote. The obvious being his crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday (you can look here to see the John Lewis Bridge Project which seeks to rename this bridge after him), but the title is also very fitting because core to Lewis's belief system is the fact that to make progress with . People believe she was a legend because she rejected handing over her place on the bus to a white person. (Thanks Laura!) Good morning to you, sir. LEWISWell, the Voting Rights Act is being challenged. But at the same time, I had what I call an executive session with myself. Be a great teacher. House. It was 47years ago that a group of us attempted to walk across that bridge to dramatize to the nation and to the world that people of color wanted to register to vote. REHMIf you could, would you do away with the filibuster? You go into the southwest. And I'd just like to say that my generation does seem to be faltering a bit, but I'm doing my best to tell my friends and people of my generation of the work that you've done, you know, for me particularly as an Asian American, how much you REHMAlex, Alex I'd be interested to know when you say you see your generation faltering a bit, what do you mean? I would take that a step further and say that every voting individual should read this book. I deliberately took my time reading this important memoir. 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