Turning Points In John Lewis's Life

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.

For many African Americans growing up in the 1960’s college was not an option. The only thing that was option for African Americans, were to get a job to support their family. Most of the African American communities did not have enough money to send their child to college. John understood this situation and did not let it hinder him. He knew that the first step to his exile, his flight from home would be getting good grades.

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.

Meriwether Lewis is the main reason that the United States’ territory extends from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean (“Meriwether Lewis” 2). He has done many great things, but he is best known for exploring the American West (1). He was a great man full of bravery. Meriwether faced tons of dangers in his life but he overcame all of them. Lewis “helped change the face of the United States by exploring uncharted territory- the American West (“Meriwether Lewis” 2).”

Standing for what you believe in can be difficult, especially when you 're against the government. John Lewis held a speech during the march in Washington in 1963, where he confronts the unfairness that colored people face needs to stop, and it has to stop now. Lewis purpose is to appeal to the audience and at the same time send a message to the government. At first, he adopts an upset tone in order to show how unfair the government is, however, towards the end he is more encouraging, wanting people to partake in this act to help them get their freedom. He made this speech to encourage people who joined together to fight for their rights, and used these rhetorical strategies to connect to the audience.

Everyone today grows up experiencing several turning points in their life that makes everyone specific and makes their own unique characteristics shine. But we all go through different turning points in our lives and everyone is different. In the Book, the March, by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, the main protagonist [John Lewis] has several turning points that lead him to develop and strengthen his character throughout the novel. Though some say that John Lewis has developed additional qualities as he has grown up through the years, the reality is that several turning points in his life had made him a more passionate person to the people he stands against, and had made him improve and strengthen his original personality traits. The times in his life that changed him are: receiving the bible from his uncle, traveling to Buffalo with his uncle, and participating in non-violent workshops.

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.

John Lewis begins his historical speech by addressing their reasons for the march and how they have a tough road ahead of them.The description on the first line of the first paragraph is a perfect illustration of foreshadowing. The reason is that it specify for what they will be talking about and why it must be changed. That is to say, How Lewis believes that it isn't right to just get paid inequality. From this statement, readers can infer that there is some determination within Lewis to deliver his message out to the world. To further illustrate this theme, of challenging the society and the politicians who are trying to stop them. The author describes, the unjust in wages, and one day they will end up in jail just because of their skin color. In other words, Lewis believes that the economic system does not even give them to feed themselves but not even a whole family. John Lewis implies one has to be strong and stand by the people who are fighting for their freedom. To sum, up the first paragraph is the initiative to his speech that builds up the colored had more courage and the politicians with more guilt. (Nayeli Lazaro)

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.

In the book March: Book One and Two, the main character John Lewis takes part in the civil rights movement in 1960’s. While it's true that many events in his life did not increase his devotion to the civil rights movement and religious beliefs, I believe that John Lewis's beliefs and determination were reinforced by the turning points in his life. I believe the gift of his bible helped him grow stronger in religion, which helped him bring a sense of connection to the civil rights movement through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words. Through that he started going to nonviolent workshops where he learned more about nonviolent protests, which started him on the road to joining the civil rights movement. This eventually pushed him to join the freedom riders.

The dominant white male of the story speaks the following statement, "Now I like the colored people, and sympathize with all this reasonable aspirations; but you and I both know, John, that in this country the Negro must remain subordinate and can never expect to be equal of white men" (373). This is a fundamental sentiment that white people in the American society during that time held on to. In this essay W.E.B DuBois shows how this black man, John, was treated in his hometown after returning home with a college education. Both blacks and whites reject his new views. However, to whites the black John represents a devaluing of the college education. If a black person can have a college degree, then having a college degree must not have value. After this reaction from society John started to think, "John Jones, you're a natural born fool" (369). This behavior from society kept the average black person stagnant, and unmotivated.

John Lewis, now a US representative for Georgia, was an activist in the civil rights movement at the time of this speech. Lewis has been involved in politics for quite some time. He was one of the leaders that organized the March on Washington in 1963. All of this leads to the speech he gave on August 28th, 1963. When giving this speech, it is clear that he has the confidence of a strong leader. The larger underlying occasion in this speech, in other words, what is going on in the world that caused Lewis to give this speech, was the civil rights movement. At this time, the African Americans in America were protesting against the government in order to gain the rights they deserved. The immediate occasion, in this case, would, in fact, be

“Powell captures the danger and tension in stunning cinematic spreads, which dramatically complement Lewis’s powerful story” (Lewis & Aydin, 1). Images are more than just an image, they pass on a meaning. In March trilogy, illustrator Nate Powell does an astounding job of making John Lewis’s memoir more memorable. Nate Powell's images help understand the suffering of segregation as well as having a better understanding of the emotions John Lewis is trying to convey. All while inspiring the readers.

Lewis was ten years old and lived in Palo Alto California. He had short black hair and was average height like most kids his age,but there was one thing that was different about him,he was black. No other kid in the Palo Alto Public School was like him which made him the center of attention, in a bad way. There were other schools in his town with kids like him like his only friend Ben, but his mom was all about education so he was stuck at the school with only caucasians, except for him. There was one kid that was in his grade that was a year older that was especially mean to him, his name was Jack. Jack had been held back in fourth grade which is why Lewis thought that he was the meanest one to him in his grade.

In Christian Theology, Christians believe that there is an afterlife. After they die, their body is either buried or cremated and their unique soul enters Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. Their belief that Jesus rose from the dead three days after crucifixion, gives them hope that if they follow Jesus’ teachings and make him their Lord and Savior than they too will experience a resurrection in the afterlife . Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection gave all Christians hope that life after death is possible.