March Book One Essay

John Lewis has never let his 40+ arrest affect what he stands for. In Lewis’ book March, he tells his story of segregation in the 60’s and the events that shaped his life. From when he was a little kid, to an older adult, March displays Lewis deal with the segregation in the south, and the hard ships others endure. Although he experienced many events in his life, John Lewis used those events to build himself religiously and help others. Receiving his first bible, Jim Lawsons workshops, his decision not to go to college and Martin Luther King’s speech all helped him become who he is.

In the book trilogy, March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin. John talks about his life growing up and making a difference. These highlights of his life would make him develop into someone more important. He received a Bible from his uncle as a gift, the trip John took up to Buffalo was a realization of how different the northern and southern states were. Segregation didn’t exist in the north. Later, John met Jim Lawson and began attended his workshops about non-violent protesting, and lastly his first arrest. These highlights during his youth would become eye-opening to Lewis that what he was putting himself through to take down segregation in the south was a risk for his life to save future generations.

Throughout the first two books of March, by John Lewis, a lot of major events like sit-ins, stand- ins, and marches took place. These events were being led by either Lewis himself, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or other members of peaceful organizations (SNCC, Freedom Riders, etc.). Although there were many marches that contributed to the overall effect in the end, four main events stood out to me; The Nashville Student Movements’ first sit-in in Nashville, TN. (1960), standing in line to try and buy tickets to get into segregated movie theatres in Nashville, TN. (1961), the march led by Dr. King in Birmingham, AL. against a court order (1963), and the march on Washington (1963).

Jim Lawson is a civil rights leader who has had his story illustrated in a three volume hardcover graphic novel called March. It was written by Jim Lawson and Andrew Aydin, with art by Nate Powell. It was produced by Top Shelf Productions in 2015. This story covers the highs and lows of Lewis’ journey towards equality. Many of his influences are documented including; his childhood, a trip to New York, nonviolence workshops, lunch counter segregation, and the “Big Six”. It’s a powerful story that through its art, may capture the attention of those who frown upon traditional literary books.

In March book 2, author and activist, John Lewis, delivered a speech on August 28, 1963. Before John Lewis delivered his speech, there was a lot of ciaos occurring backstage about revising Lewis’ speech. Mr. Randolph wasn’t pleased with the way John Lewis worded parts of his speech and demanded for him to change it. After Lewis negotiated with Mr. Randolph, Lewis was still content with the arrangement of his speech. Lewis confronts his sentiments to the people regarding racial inequality. He emphasizes on the unfair acts that are implemented among the African American working class. John Lewis states, “While we stand here, there are sharecroppers in the Delta of Mississippi who are out in the fields working for less than three dollars a day, twelve hours a day” (Lewis Aydin 166). In this statement, Lewis explains his reasoning for assembling his speech. His objective was to arouse the public on the realism of the nation’s unjust behavior towards African Americans. Lewis explains the march on Washington is occurring because blacks don’t receive the same wages as whites. Lewis declares, “We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now” (Lewis Aydin 169). He proclaims that African Americans have been fighting for their freedom long enough and they are not willing to be patient. With his skillful use of appeals, Lewis applies powerful logos to illustrate racism, emotional pathos to connect with the audience, and ethos to appeal to the segregation and discrimination towards African Americans.

On August 28, 1963, John Lewis delivered his memorable speech on Washington to a 200,000 crowd of activist demanding peace and equality. Lewis’ purpose is to inspire others to join their march and make a mark on history. He adopts a demanding and bold tone in order to persuade the black activists and politicians to change the social norms and to join the social revolution. By demonstrating his demanding claims for equal rights to the politicians, whites, and African - Americans, John Lewis effectively utilizes syntax and diction to adequately get his message of hope, equality and desegregation.

“Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity (pg. 941).” In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and sent to jail for leading a peaceful march in Birmingham in which the city officials issued no parade permit. From the jail cell in Birmingham, Martin Luther King Jr. composed “Letter From Birmingham Jail” in response to the eight clergymen who had attacked his character and work for civil rights through the publication “A Call For Unity”, insisting he was an “outsider” influencing the actions of hatred and violence. Martin Luther King Jr. establishes himself as an authority in the eyes of his audience, shows the trials blacks encounter in America, justifies his

John Lewis initiates his claim by conveying that everyone in America should not tolerate racial segregation nor discrimination. In order to reach to his point, he uses the rhetorical device, pathos, in which it causes the “white” audience to feel remorse for what society has become. To illustrate this idea, Lewis reveals African Americans “live in constant fear of a police state”, “have been arrested on trumped charges”, and some faced “the death penalty for engaging in peaceful protest” (paragraph 2). The evidence highlights that they are going through hardships caused by the federal government because they are considered “inferior” compared to the “white” race. From this, readers can infer that white supremacy is being marked on the walls. Lewis is able to awaken Americans so they can realize how their actions are wounding African Americans. In addition, Lewis is representing the African American community so they can feel inspired to join the Civil Rights Movement. Possibly the speaker is trying to drag the African Americans out of their state of oblivion by incentivizing them to defend their rights. Lewis is addressing the problems to both audiences so they can feel the urge to fix them. Therefore, Lewis’ remarks in the first paragraph reveal that he identifies with the concerns of African Americans and how whites, mainly activists, should focus on addressing their issues.

The author uses characterization, symbolism, and theme to demonstrate African American viewpoints during the civil rights movement.

The graphic novel trilogy, The March, tells a series of events that happen in John Lewis’s life for the better and for the worse. Throughout the books, he is faced with challenges that test his ability to stay true to his beliefs. When Lewis was a child, he received his first Bible from his uncle which was what sparked his heavy faith in God. During his spiritual journey, he began to listen to the teachings of MLK Jr. who impacted his life greatly. Lewis became the SNCC’s newest executive coordinating committee which opened his eyes to all the violence that was really apparent at the time.

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. was thrown into jail due to participating in non-violent protests against racism and segregation in the city of Birmingham. There, he wrote the famous “Letter from the Birmingham Jail,” which became one of the most important letters in history of the American civil rights movement (Colaiaco 1). The open letter covered many points to King’s arguments for why the marches, protests, and other non-violent actions were necessary and justifiable. James Colaiaco analyzes the key components to the letter and the different ways Martin Luther King, Jr. used literary devices to form a well written argument.

March is a graphic memoir of John Lewis life, but most importantly, it is about his life during the Civil Rights Movement. The story begins with 2009 Congressman John Lewis getting ready

Lewis mentions, “But eventually I began spending more time doing schoolwork, studying, and my eyes began opening to the world around me” (Lewis and Aydin 1:35). Or another way to say it, he became a student and a protestor, but does he really start opening his eyes to the world? Well, everything happened during his first trip to the north. His uncle Otis invited him to Buffalo, New York, and visit his family. This trip is very important because it helped him to understand the injustice in the south against the Black community and get a clearer vision of what the Black people should be fighting and demanding for in the south. Quotes like, “I was not disappointed” (Lewis and Aydin 1:42) and “… travel was an otherworldly experience” (Lewis and Aydin 1:43). They express his emotions and try to give us a context of how amazing the north was. Lewis tells us, “I could not believe that they had white people living next door to them. On both sides” (Lewis and Aydin 1:43). His first impression was huge, something that was pretty much forbidden in the south was a “myth” in the north. Finally, when his visit to Buffalo ends, he says, “After that trip, home never felt the same and neither did I” (Lewis and Aydin 1:47). I wonder if that is really the beginning of a new John Lewis, the one who does not care how many times he has to go to jail for his

Lewis, however, highlights these people whose lives will be greatly affected by decisions about and fights for civil rights so that those who are marching remember that the fight continues and has real consequences. Therefore, Lewis’ remarks in the first paragraph demonstrate that he identifies with the concerns of grassroots activists across the country who could not attend the march, and he explains that he has doubts about this march doing enough if the movement does not focus more on the grassroots efforts of its members. (Ms. Pruden)

Secondly, it is notoriously difficult to organise large numbers of people to act non-violently in a manner that is both cohesive and sustained. Thirdly, non-violence cannot guarantee success in the immediate and palpable way that violence pretends to- simply because it waits upon rather than coerces the response of other." (Harrington, 620). During the civil rights movement in America many peopple practiced non-violence including John Lewis author of "March". John Lewis believed in the act of non-violence and practiced it with no regret. During this time of American history violence was a significant problem between whites and blacks. Non-violence to many seemed to not have any power, but it had great power. Harrington explains that "non-violence mirrors the cross. The cross was a failure - in the eyes of the world. Non-violence endures because it finds its idea of success in what counts in God's eyes." Non-violence will always be successful in that it teaches to love humanity no matter how badly humanity violates each other, and love is never a