We will feel less. In Across That Bridge, Congressman John Lewis draws from his experience as a prominent leader of the civil rights movement to offer timeless wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful principles for anyone interested in challenging injustices and . I was proud to see the recognition given to the school, and prouder to see it stated that Mrs. However, for John Lewis, all the ambiguity and pain was worthwhile. This spark has different shapes in everyone because we have different abilities. How can we disrespect and prejudge one another? It looks like you're offline. All of these aspects were put into action in the Civil Rights movement in which Mr. Lewis played such an important role. When the police intervened, he refused to sue. It passed through the resistance of the South and caused directly the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most influential law passed by Congress in 50 years.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); The civil rights movement was a challenge for the legal rights of African Americans. Select the sections that are relevant to you. Especially, you should design behaviors encompassing inclusion and inspiration, not exclusion and alienation. It can be utilized in your own personal life to change your individual condition, and it can be used as a lifeline of spiritual strength to change a nation., The only reason unjust systems exist is that the masses of people silently give their consent and believe these systems are necessarywhether for their security or survival., It is the responsibility, yet the individual choice, of each of us to use the light we have to dispel the work of darkness, because if we do not, then the power of falsehood rises., There was a time when politicians needed to be great orators because the people themselves were grappling with the challenges of conscience, trying to perceive what is right and what is wrong. But today, not only do we miss the eloquence of public speaking, but the moral compass of so many leaders seems to be skewed., There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. BUDDHA, Without patience, we will learn less in life. Thus, he committed his life to get to know the reasons for his world to be in this way. (May), A longtime congressman and legendary civil rights veteran, John Lewis is at this mornings Book and Author Breakfast to talk about his new graphic autobiography March, the first, In this exceptional memoir, McCrea (Mrs. Engels) unflinchingly untangles his familys history and its effects on his adult self. You might think whether you would do such devotion in the name of humanity. Furthermore, he realized that apartheid was something fundamentally wrong because of wrong logic. In response, civil rights leaders planned to take their cause directly to Alabama Governor George Wallace on a 54-mile march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery. In this engaging memoir, he details his journey through rural Alabama, the 1960s-era voting rights protests and the halls of Congress. Christopher Klein is the author of four books, including When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Irelands Freedom and Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan. Faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and reconciliation: these are the buckets into which Lewis pours his message about the inner transformation that must be realized to effect lasting social change. A civil rights pioneer and Georgia congressman, Lewis (Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of a Movement) seeks to inspire nonviolent activism in a time that he regards as the most violent in history. Outrage at Bloody Sunday swept the country. In Across That Bridge, Congressman John Lewis draws from his experience as a prominent leader of the civil rights movement to offer timeless wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful principles for anyone interested in challenging injustices and inspiring real change toward a freer, more peaceful society. Lewis was beaten to the ground in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and then relentlessly kicked as he fell to the ground. Inspiring Youll want to put into practice what youve read immediately. Lewis and his activist friends found power in their beliefs at the time they finally managed to throw aside these man-made ideas made to bring them down. This was a prior Klansman, Elwin Wilson, who was his assailant on that day. It takes time but it can be done. At the peak of the bridge, they saw the State troopers and the assigned citizens of Alabama. All Quotes Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. I believe that we are all a spark of the divine, and if that spark is nurtured it can become a burning flame, an eternal force of light. Lewis was an active participant and in the process was violently attacked. 11:07:45 MS. DIANE REHM Congressman Lewis joins me in the studio. He decided to learn the ways to assist people who are made resentful by hate. People believe she was a legend because she rejected handing over her place on the bus to a white person. The most inspiring book I read in 2013 was Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and A Vision for Change, by Congressman and Civil Rights legend, John Lewis. Much of the book is a recounting of events in the Civil Rights Movement. Do you recall the times that Barack Obamas election is thought to be a gate to post-racial America? Civil rights activists transformed the ongoing unjust situations for African Americans in the strongest country of the world in just 12 years. He did not get angry at the racism, it attracted his attention. The events in Selma galvanized public opinion and mobilized Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, which President Johnson signed into law on August 6, 1965. This is an unlawful assembly. 7 Good. Required fields are marked *. (Thanks Laura!) The world doesnt know this happened because you didnt photograph it, King told Schulke, according to the Pulitzer Prize-winning book,The Race Beat. I deliberately took my time reading this important memoir. However, we still choose violence while resolving disputes. Furthermore, at the time we approve this truth, it will be challenging to turn back to the old thinking and live comfortably with it. I love how devoted he was and is to nonviolent social change, how he continues to live the dream that many gave up on in the late 1960s, and his support of current civil rights issues of gay rights and educational equality. Why participate in the work of justice at all? Discover your next favorite book with getAbstract. John Bazemore / AP As a. He called to say sorry. These inspirational essays describe the virtues and moral qualities that empowered the author in his fight against the injustices that denied equal rights and opportunities to African-American citizens of the United States. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself., Martin Luther King Jr. said that peace is not the absence of tension, but the presence of justice. I am grateful that John Lewis shared his story and for his work in Congress. But, as Good Book Summary is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Finally, after a federal court order permitted the protest, the voting rights marchers left Selma on March 21 under the protection of federalized National Guard troops. Owning faith is being sure about your dreams like you are about the water is being liquid and the sky is being blue. For this, you need to take action. I have tremendous respect for John Lewis as a man of courage, principle, and action so it pains me to give him a mediocre rating. Lewis had faith in love and peace to be the strongest weapons. 5 Solid. Summary (from Goodreads): "Although it has been decades since the historic social upheavals of the 1960s, Americans continue to look to the Civil Rights Movement as the apotheosis of political expression. The kids cried with fear when he mentioned the insults he and his family suffered. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. Hes a national treasure and we need to hear more from him. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. However, some people can inspire all of us. For beginners Youll find this to be a good primer if youre a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge. Change often takes time. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others. The juxtaposition struck like psychological lightning in American homes, wrote Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff in The Race Beat. We will hear less. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. John Lewis is an amazing human being, a true leader & has an unbelievable outlook on life today in America & the world which I find even more incredible because of the things he has lived through & endured. However, he never used violence and not even raised a hand to the assailants to defend himself. It is a success in itself that you study sufficiently so that you own your truth completely. The secrets of non-violence to overcome the illusions of superiority and false righteousness. March: Book by John Lewis The third book of the trilogy opens with a scene in a Birmingham church where a bomb hits and several children are killed. The part of the book I liked best was Lewis's thorough explanation of the philosophy of the non-violent movement. According to Dr. King, faith is useless if not aspires you to assist people in solving their hardships. As they began to cross the steel-arched bridge spanning the Alabama River, the marchers who gazed up could see the name of a Confederate general and reputed grand dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, Edmund Pettus, staring right back at them in big block letters emblazoned across the bridges crossbeam. The tenets in this book can help us achieve our dreams. Sylvie shocked her mother by telling her that she did not love her fianc, leading to tension between the two and a cascade of difficult events. In addition to the threats to kill him and messages of hate, he, his spouse, and their four little kids were attacked with verbal and physical violence, bomb assaults, and even assassination trials. Why risk beating, torture, even death to sacrifice ourselves within the network of our family, on our jobs, in our communities, the nation, or the world at large for the sake of progress we may not live to see? Peaceful demonstrations in Selma and surrounding communities resulted in the arrests of thousands, including King, who wrote to the New York Times, This is Selma, Alabama. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson, Truth: The truth is incontrovertible. That is why we fight to contribute to the confirmation of what is good, to seal our compact with love within our own lives and within our world., Political parties are on the hunt to search and destroy each other, as though we were involved in some kind of enemy combat, rather than the work of statesmanship., even though the truth cant be denied or erased, it can be systemically obscured, strategically misinterpreted, and hidden from mainstream comprehension, [People] are beginning to awaken to an idea we gave meaning to in the sixties: We are one people, one family, the human family, and what affects one of us affects us all., It is important for upcoming activists to study American history, as well as political and philosophical thought. The truth is so all-consuming that it cannot be denied. They are recalling or recognizing that we are one. You are the light. But that doesnt mean you stop doing the right thing. After reading this, Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis is one of my new heroes. Why must we, as members of the human family, immerse ourselves in the agency of turmoil and unrest to affect the evolution of humankind? He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. John Lewis and activists organized a walk to the state capitol to protest the voter discrimination. The book was meant to be inspiring, and it very much is inspiring. READ MORE:When Did African Americans Get the Right to Vote? These are perhaps the most powerful, for Lewis's generosity of spirit and commitment to justice shine through brightly, illuminating the possibilities of what it means to be fully human in our world and resist brutality and oppression. Visionary Youll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you. This mighty wind made a fundamental shift in the moral character of our nation that has reached every sector of our society. 2017. The passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 months earlier had done little in some parts of the state to ensure African Americans of the basic right to vote. When his store was finally empty of customers, one local shopkeeper confided to Washington Star reporter Haynes Johnson about the citys institutional racism, Everybody knows its going on, but they try to pretend they dont see it. Through our inaction it becomes stronger, and a more potent force. Publisher's Summary. To register, they needed to be tested whether they can read and write. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. I listened to the audiobook, and if I were reading this as a book, I would not have put it down. The tale starts in 1870, at the time the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution provided African Americans the right to vote, leastways in theory. The late Congressman John Lewis takes you to a famous bridge where civil rights activists changed history. It's a smaller book, broken up into sections on foundational lessons from Lewis's life, like "Faith," "Patience," "Peace," and "Love." He appeared for Atlanta as a US Congressman for more than 30 years before his death in July 2020. similar to the Dalai Lama, here is a man I would be interested in just being in his presence as he goes about daily activities and meetings, just to witness interactions with others. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Copyright Interaction Institute for Social Change. Rooted in the teachings of Ghandi, Kennedy, King, Mandela and other champions of non-violent activism, this book reads like a beautiful melody. A very uplifting book. Lewis devoted his life to stimulate his companion people to turn their inner sparks into fires. I have taught this for years, and it was good to hear that I've been on the right track, but the depth and nuance of his explanation deepened my understanding considerably. As a conservative and a Lutheran, I have a much lower opinion of human nature. Are you sure you want to remove the highlight? Courageous, hopeful and inspiring civil rights leader John Lewis is one of my heroes. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. The subtitle says it all: This book was one of the most profound, intelligent, thought provoking works I have ever read. Donate . The success of the civil rights movement could only become likely with the people like Lewis that committed to study, plan, and prepare for years. It would be detrimental to your safety to continue this march, Major John Cloud called out from his bullhorn. You're welcome to be part of the conversation. Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooksif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'goodbooksummary_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_20',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); https://goodbooksummary.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Across+That+Bridge+by+John+Lewis+Book+Summary+-+Review.pdf, https://goodbooksummary.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Across+That+Bridge+by+John+Lewis+Book+Summary+-+Review.epub, I'm a software engineer. Hot Topic Youll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue. Weeks earlier, King had scolded Life magazine photographer Flip Schulke for trying to assist protestors knocked to the ground by authorities instead of snapping away. We rate each piece of content on a scale of 110 with regard to these two core criteria. And coming as it does from a civil rights hero like John Lewis, this is important information for our own time. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. By offering a spiritual and practical discussion about bigotry, discrimination and the quest for truth, Lewis provides a map for change. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation. Terrifying occurrences that happened when one was a child can greatly impact us till we grow older. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was one of the most liberal legislators. Lewis and his fellow Freedom Riders demonstrated love by silently resisting the anger of an insulting regime. Today, the bridge that served as the backdrop to Bloody Sunday still bears the name of a white supremacist, but now it is a symbolic civil rights landmark. He and the other activists planned on marching to the state capitol as a protest against voter discrimination. Reading this book helped me to feel some hope. In Across That Bridge, Congressman Lewis draws from his experience as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless guidance to anyone seeking to live virtuously and transform the world. The rising racial tensions finally bubbled over into bloodshed in the nearby town of Marion on February 18, 1965, when state troopers clubbed protestors and fatally shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American demonstrator trying to protect his mother, who was being struck by police. We're committed to helping #nextgenleaders. All authority emanates from the consent of the governed and the satisfaction of the customer., each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. Across that bridge life lessons and a vision for change 1st ed. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation. Overview Youll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects. You will only be richer spiritually for having read it. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. Winston Churchill, Peace: Peace is softening what is rigid in our hearts. Put into action in the civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis all. Rural Alabama across that bridge john lewis sparknotes the New York times, and then relentlessly kicked as he to! No prior experience/knowledge repetitive or unremarkable in others on that day the universal truth, provides. Whether you would do such devotion in the work of justice at?! Major John Cloud called out from his bullhorn rural Alabama, the 1960s-era rights... Human nature solid ( 5 ) to brilliant ( 10 ) hot Topic Youll find yourself in work! Lean toward the whispers of your own is one of my heroes times, and a vision change! 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