Over the years, we have remembered Civil Rights Leaders for their contributions to the fight against “Racism.” Most fighters didn’t have an opportunity to see the progression and regression of those very people they fought to help. John Lewis did.
John Lewis was born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama. As a young child, Lewis wanted to stir up the pulpit as a Preacher. He would practice with the chicken day in and day out, which enabled him to preach to the crowds all over the World.
The Freedom Riders, originated by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and revived by James Farmer and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), was initiated to pressure the federal government to enforce the Supreme Court decision in Boynton v. Virginia (1960) that declared segregated interstate bus travel to be unconstitutional. John Lewis was one of the original members of the Freedom Riders, which included 7 Whites and 6 Blacks-giving them the name, Big Six. The Freedom Rides were determined to ride from Washington D. C to New Orleans together. During those times, Blacks and Whites were not allowed to sit next to one another in the Southern States, but that do not deter them from implementing their plans.
There was some much beauty and pain during the life of John Lewis. He endured… for the sake of others. He stood firm amid adversities, never allowing the danger of his adversaries to sway his confidence.
His Journey:
He was beaten to sit next to a white people, he was hosed down to cross that Selma’s bridge, he was lied on and denied over and over until he became our Congressman, he changed his supporting vote during an election to see the First Black President (Barak Obama), and he walked masked up to view the yellow words, “BLACK LIVES MATTER” painted in the streets of Washington D. C.
2 TIM 4:7 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
On July 17, 2020, John Lewis passed away -leaving us with enough memories to educate a classroom on resilience and dedication. Many fight the hatred of racism today, but John Lewis got a chance to live it, see it, and pass it on.
Feature Photo: Artist Greg Joens, Other photos: internet