“If courage was a man, his name would be John Lewis.”
Born February 21st, 1940 to two sharecroppers, John Lewis got his start in the rural south of Troy, Alabama. Even as a young boy, his family knew he was destined for greatness when they witnessed him preaching to the chickens out in the field.
Lewis began his long path of mobilizing the black community at only 19. While attending school in Nashville, he partook in local workshops on nonviolent confrontation in preparation for the Freedom Rides of 1961 that challenged racial segregation in the South. From that point forward, Lewis went on to make massive contributions and personal sacrifices for the progression of our community.
To his count, Lewis was arrested more than 40 times over the years for various civil rights activities across the South. He helped organize the March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 and was beaten bloody in his efforts to lead an estimated 600 marchers to Montgomery all in the name of voting rights. This led to the deadly encounter with law enforcement that we now know as Bloody Sunday.
In 1977, Lewis made his first run for Congress and lost, but that only strengthened his determination. November of 1986, John was elected to Congress, overseeing the 5th district of Atlanta. He was re-elected 16 times after that. Even towards the end of his political career, his work continued up until his passing on July 27th, 2020 after a long fight with prostate cancer.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will do what I can.”
And that he did.
Not only was he one of the biggest civil rights icons ever, he was a loving husband to his wife Lillian Miles, a father to John-Miles Lewis, and most importantly an unwavering advocate for his community.
His legacy left was like none other and he will never be forgotten.
Since the beginning of time the odds have been against us. This country was built on our backs, yet there is a systemic effort to silence our voices. The implementation of voter suppression laws overwhelmingly targets Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, youth, and low-income communities. If that isn’t motivation for you to vote then vote because your forebears fought and died for our right.
Vote for the simple fact that they don’t want you to.
Vote because your opinion matters.
Vote because you can.
Without outspoken leaders, such as John Lewis present to vouch for us, the power lies in the hands of black youth like you and me. We have a responsibility to uphold. We have the power to strengthen our democracy and make great change. We know more than anyone else that there is strength in numbers.
It would be in our best black interest to educate ourselves on the nature of politics and choose a candidate that can actively and truthfully advocate for our community; in the name of John Lewis.
