Four days later, they reached Montgomery with the crowd growing to 25,000 by the time they reached the capitol steps. Still, he is pointed as an excellent orator. Currently, activists of the Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter, and the Occupy Movement are battling the same wars that were battled in the civil rights movement. How can we come to the point where we malign and hate one another?, Governments and corporations do not live. 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. This ignorance comes from the thought that the world differs for different races. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria: Enlightening Youll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions. Lewis makes frequent references to examples from history, and the words of peaceful leaders of the past, to support his points. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. Concrete Examples Youll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes. Lewis was beaten to the ground in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and then relentlessly kicked as he fell to the ground. Analytical Youll understand the inner workings of the subject matter. We rate each piece of content on a scale of 110 with regard to these two core criteria. I have spent very little time with our baby (who hasnt Our hearts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy thatoccurred in Boston. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that therell be any fruit. I was proud to see the recognition given to the school, and prouder to see it stated that Mrs. Cambridge historian Clark (Iron Kingdom) untangles the, The lumber industry, abetted by the government, reaped massive profits while ravaging Californias redwood forests, according to journalist Kings damning debut. 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. 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. 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. This fact was excellently demonstrated with the effort for equality in voting in the civil rights movement. As a leading player of the civil rights movement, Dr. King encountered a lot of hate and rage, even from his family. It is bigger than the sum of us all, and whole, even in its parts. 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? Refresh and try again. Lewis devoted his life to stimulate his companion people to turn their inner sparks into fires. Rooted in the teachings of Ghandi, Kennedy, King, Mandela and other champions of non-violent activism, this book reads like a beautiful melody. Love in action. We will hear less. Furthermore, with exciting examples from his exceptional life, you will learn the fundamentals of all real activists. For beginners Youll find this to be a good primer if youre a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge. To register, they needed to be tested whether they can read and write. In reality, facing violence and inequality made the faith of Lewis and his counterparts more powerful. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner. Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America John Lewis 4.32 5,760 ratings491 reviews 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. Courageous, hopeful and inspiring civil rights leader John Lewis is one of my heroes. Nobody could hurt him. 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. Networks for Social Change: Life on the Edge. He called to say sorry. Anyone in these movements has embarked on the responsibility to eliminate the vigors of discrimination and demolition by utilizing their inherent light. Why participate in the work of justice at all? Required fields are marked *. This is the typical life path that continues to rule contemporary culture. One thing I enjoyed in the book was all of the small biographical details about leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. However, some people can inspire all of us. I do recommend this book, but it was a little disappointing for me. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. The book was meant to be inspiring, and it very much is inspiring. You need to contact the server owner or hosting provider for further information. He was getting ready through all of his life. getAbstract offers a free trial to qualifying organizations that want to empower their workforce with curated expert knowledge. [] Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. In. Deputies on horseback charged ahead and chased the gasping men, women and children back over the bridge as they swung clubs, whips and rubber tubing wrapped in barbed wire. WATCH: Full episodes of 'I Was There' online now. His wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful ideas will inspire a new generation to usher in a freer, more peaceful society. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about truth, goodness and working for justice. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. Lewis was an active participant and in the process was violently attacked. The worst of propriety Lewis ever attested was the State Union speech in which President Obama was mentioned as a liar.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'goodbooksummary_com-box-4','ezslot_9',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-box-4-0'); However, it looks like people start to see the truth. With an engaged electorate once again confronting questions of social inequality, there's no better time to revisit They knocked the marchers to the ground. As Henry Thoreau strongly believed, to comply with an unjust system is to accept abuse. The casket of Rep. John Lewis moves over the Edmund Pettus Bridge by horse drawn carriage during a memorial service for Lewis in Selma, Ala., on July 26, 2020. However, there were a few things about the book that cause me to lower my rating. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson, Truth: The truth is incontrovertible. Reading this on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington was fitting. Major, replied Williams, I would like to have a word, can we have a word?. Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooksif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'goodbooksummary_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-medrectangle-3-0'); John Lewis guided a crowd of pacifist protestors to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March, 7th, 1965. The tale starts in 1870, at the time the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution provided African Americans the right to vote, leastways in theory. 11:07:45 MS. DIANE REHM Congressman Lewis joins me in the studio. In ten short years, there was a tempest that transformed what the American Revolution did not address, what the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were afraid to confront, what the Civil War could not unravel, what Reconstruction tried to mediate, and Jim Crow did its best to retrench. The demonstrators marched undisturbed through downtown Selma, where the ghosts of the past constantly permeated the present. You have to disperse, you are ordered to disperse. I loved this book (read it in one sitting) and as Douglas Brinkley says in his foreward every young person should read this homily on civility. Hate can never overcome hate, only love can do that.. 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. Bold Youll find arguments that may break with predominant views. The irony in "Across the Bridge" is expressed through the personal observations of the narrator, who knows more than the other characters, thus providing the reader with an informed point of. The truth is a powerful force. If we truly believe in the equality of all humankind, how can we put down and belittle one another? Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.MOTHER TERESA, When we set our minds against one another, when we focus on destructive energy and propagate the negative notions of separation, division, discrimination, rejection, domination, and war, we waste our power in a futile attempt to debase, degrade, and even destroy the light in others., To reconcile ourselves with one another, we must release our judgments and make peace with the fact that we are one. However, he never used violence and not even raised a hand to the assailants to defend himself. Sympathizers staged sit-ins, traffic blockades and demonstrations in solidarity with the voting rights marchers. Agent: Bob Barnett. The assault on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama helped lead to the Voting Rights Act. 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. While I often have a hard time living up to his ideals, I am inspired by his deeply held belief in the unity and equality of all people. Though our hearts are broken, LOVE and compassion will help us heal and move forward. 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. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. 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. It can even lead to the dimming of the light of all humanity born on this planet. After reading this, Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis is one of my new heroes. In January 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr., came to the city and gave the backing of the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) to the cause. Lewis is no pie-in-the-sky hippie. A short book with the wisdom of a prophet and the compassion of one who has sacrificed all for the cause of peace and justice. I am grateful that John Lewis shared his story and for his work in Congress. You must do something. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Others drove through the town throwing rocks. He lived in Alabamas cotton fields where racism was how people live. . At the time people started to quit their permissions, the conditions started to change. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. By offering a spiritual and practical discussion about bigotry, discrimination and the quest for truth, Lewis provides a map for change. This is an unlawful assembly. Finally, Lewis is too liberal for my political views. With vivid details and a front-row perspective, Lewis, who died July 18, 2020, providesmore than a memoir about the early civil rights movement and its leaders. The late US Rep. John Robert Lewis made his final journey on Sunday across the famous bridge in Selma, Alabama, where the towering civil rights figure helped lead a march for voting rights. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. They are given life and derive all their authority from their ability to assist, benefit, and transform the lives of the people they touch. The Civil Rights Movement, above all, was a work of love. Stay up-to-date with emerging trends in less time. 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. When Did African Americans Get the Right to Vote? Engaging Youll read or watch this all the way through the end. We will feel less. They explain how he was able to face down violence and respond in a non-violent manner to people who thought he was their enemy, and later offer his opponents love and reconciliation. Ive got nothing further to say to you, Cloud answered. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The soldiers and the annoyed group were not intended to allow protestors to pass through, with their firearms, tear gas, and batons. He and his peers were soldiers of peace during the civil rights movement. This march will not continue., Mr. The opening of the eyes of people resembled Lewis of the civil rights movement the robust wind that passed through the US and changed the spiritual identity of the country. 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. It's a smaller book, broken up into sections on foundational lessons from Lewis's life, like "Faith," "Patience," "Peace," and "Love." He also argues strongly against war as counterproductive in a way that seemed naive and simplistic. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You are the light. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. They were hit, disparaged with words, and imprisoned. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. John Robert Lewis was the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district, serving since 1987 and was the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. Furthermore, he realized that apartheid was something fundamentally wrong because of wrong logic. 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 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. Each one reflects on these major lessons, providing both an inspiring introduction to a particular aspect of nonviolence and short anecdotes from Lewis's own life. Networks for Change: Values Before Vision? 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. In Across That Bridge, Lewis draws from his experience as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer . A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. On March 7, 1965, a group of protesters attempted to march across the . The late John Lewis offers his thoughts on social activism in this short book. 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. 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. As the child of sharecroppers,the late Congressman John Lewis helped his parents grow corn, peanuts and cotton. You may never know what results come from your action. The movements challenge was to improve the faulty opinion that some humans are more valuable since they have more light than others. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. With an engaged electorate once again confronting questions of social inequality, there's no better time to revisit the lessons of the '60s and no better leader to learn from than Congressman John Lewis. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. The connection wasnt lost in Selma, either. Yet, even fifty years later, it is rare to find anyone who would use the word love to describe what we did. It looks like you're offline. We need reminded. Hyperion, $22.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-4013-2411-7 A measure they implemented was something named the Grandfather Clause. However, he gifted all the money for the civil rights cause.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_16',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); With this altruistic gift, King highlighted the movements fundamental message of inclusion and love for everybody. Lewis and his fellow Freedom Riders demonstrated love by silently resisting the anger of an insulting regime. 2023 Copyright Good Book Summaries [Daily Updated], link to Mindsight by Daniel Siegel [Book Summary - Review], link to Employee to Entrepreneur by Steve Glaveski [Book Summary - Review]. From that organization, Parks learned about events and protests that activists designed to spotlight segregation on the public transit system. Well structured Youll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application. This country was founded on the ideal that we are all created equal. It is possible for life to be a disturbing event. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths: Applicable Youll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations. Continue with Recommended Cookies. For experts Youll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert. You are a light. 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. Editor's Note: Douglas Brinkley is author of "Rosa Parks" (2000) and wrote the foreword to John Lewis' "Across . 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