The March Book Summary

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.

What does March 7th mean to you? On this significant day, hundreds descended to Selma, Alabama in a bid to secure voting rights for African Americans. These African Americans only ever asked for the simple right to vote and to be treated with equality compared to whites, but all they ever got in return, was disrespect. Blacks wanted to be treated like citizens, similar to anyone else with the opposite skin color. Because of this, in 1965, blacks who were not guaranteed voting rights marched and tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge to stand up and even demand for what they believed in. Although their efforts were great, local and state police stopped them before their march got too far. A few attempts later, the demonstrators made their way across the bridge. Blacks had to stop marching after 10 miles each day because they had 54 miles to go to complete their walk. This march for equal rights was such a huge issue that there was a total of 600 participants when they finally completed the walk! In fact, this didn’t just affect a few people, it affected any black woman, man, or even children too. For example, eleven year old Desiree Robertson carried an American Flag helping lead the group of marches down a rolling stretch of a highway. These people walked for their freedom and never gave up for what they believed in.

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.

The Fifth of March is a work of historical fiction which takes place in the city of Boston from the year 1768 to the year 1772. Rachel Marsh, the main character is a 13 year old girl who is an indentured servant to John and Abigail Adams. Among the interesting and diverse cast of characters is Uncle Eb, Rachel’s abusive and greedy uncle, and Matthew Kilroy, who is the British soldier whom Rachel loves. In the story, Rachel wants to find herself a place in the world as the growing thirst for revolution spreads among the American people, eventually leading to the Boston Massacre. Rachel finds herself caught in the middle of the revolution, with her patriot friends and Matthew, who kills a man during the massacre. Through her many struggles, in the end, Rachel becomes “A plain American, a true American.” She then leaves for Philadelphia,leaving her dowry behind, showing that she is independent and free of the malicious Uncle Eb.

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.

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)

Mayors nearby Washington D.C. even gave city workers the day off so they could attend. For those too far away, there were symbolic marches on city halls across America and American Embassies around the world. James Baldwin who was in France at the time, took part in one of these.

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.

In the book March, I learned more about the civil rights movement than I had known before. Things like Parchman Farm, the Freedom Riders, and using nonviolence to combat segregation. I now have a better appreciation for the civil rights movement, though I never took it for granted, I feel like I have a greater insight on the journey for equality. March is brutal, sad, empowering, brave and

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).

Since 1963, there are many movies, shows, books, and poems that are dedicated to this horrific event to commemorate the loss of the four girls and their families. During that time period, it is imperative that we know and understand where we came from and remember the people that dedicated their life to help us get our freedom. In the poem, a mom has to tell her daughter that she can’t participate in the march, but she has to go to church and same goes with the film. Families took their faith very seriously and not going to church was never an

The march of the Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans and their families who travelled to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1932. They came from all over the nation to seek economic relief from the federal government. The veterans wanted to receive money that was promised for their services in the first world war and to redeem their service certificates ahead of schedule. The Great Depression was at its height and it was a difficult time to live. Many of the veterans were poor due to a shortage of jobs. Unemployment was at 25% and everyone that went to Washington, D.C. camped out in a self-made “Hooverville”. The government tried to get them to leave, but it was not facile. They were not leaving without a fight.

This trilogy is entitled “March”, because of active marches that were happening in to protest of inequality of people of color. Several marches were depicted throughout the novel to show the perspectives of John Lewis and his civil right activists. Lewis and his comrades wanted their characteristics such as being as being resolute, unified, and steady to back up reasoning for their marches. Marches was a way to show strength and unity in a nonviolent way to get their points across. Lewis would govern these marches for his society that’s were being put in harm’s way like the bombing of the Loobys’.

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

It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that riding the bus can get one hurt and killed and how non-volient acts can lead to so much hate and violence. The Freedom Rides help bring attention to national level. The level of violence is extreme in response to a non-violent movement. The white supremacy was trying its best to make the colored population inferior. The segregation is a symbol of fear and hate. The press and television is a big part in the success of the movement. They help shape the public opinion toward segregation. The media brought the problem to our attention through dramatic and often disturbing photos and reports.