Even as you were facing the dogs and facing the, I mean, segregation and having your right denied and everything, I find today that we're faced with a greater challenge than that, and it comes at the hand -- at the fact that the number of cause of death in America for a black American is abortion. In this backpack I had two books, had one apple and one orange. REHMWhat do you think of a new poll suggesting that there is a racial divide when it comes to who voters trust with their economic futures? While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. LEWISWell, sir, let me just respond by saying I believe that we should let the legal system work. Finally, Lewis is too liberal for my political views. In reality, facing violence and inequality made the faith of Lewis and his counterparts more powerful. The part of the book I liked best was Lewis's thorough explanation of the philosophy of the non-violent movement. Students, fans and supporters of the civil rights movement repeatedly ask Congressman John Lewis the same question: How did you do it?Some wonder how Lewis and his peers pursued civil rights goals when they faced racism, police violence and jail sentences.Others ask how activists remained faithful to their lofty goals in the face of brutal hypocrisy. A contrast is called to mind between the aimless rioting and looting seen in present day, and the studied, planned, non-violent approaches of the earlier era, that led to an end of segregation and other injustices in the American South. However, he never used violence and not even raised a hand to the assailants to defend himself. Scientific Youll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research. King could use this money to establish a safe and sound living outside the hazardous South. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you. And they cry, they hug me, I cry and hug them back. And I think many members of the African American community and a great majority would come to that point very soon for they will learn they will be -- embrace marriage equality. LEWISDiane, what I try to suggest that in these times, in these days that we live, something is going wrong in our society. He was getting ready through all of his life. The tenets in this book can help us achieve our dreams. 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. At its worst, it resembles an extended campaign speech: Some people have told me that I am a rare bird in the blue sky of dreamers despite every attempt to keep me down, I have not been shaken. In between these extremes is the advice of a wise uncle who has earned the right to say his peace. is particularly well structured. Till the 1960s, to prevent African Americans from using their rights, the government of the Alabama State and the Ku Klux Klan tried every way they could. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. However, Lewis was thinking that we are one family. It's almost sacred. REHMJohn Lewis, Congressman from Georgia. July 27, 2020. The triumph of truth. Whatever they do, they should do it in a peaceful, nonviolent, orderly fashion and recreate a truly multiracial democratic society. You know, I talk about being in one house, one family and I still believe that. Lewis had faith in love and peace to be the strongest weapons. It's obscene. People voted against everything that the Democrats had proposed and everything that this president has proposed. When this president was reelected -- well, first elected, I should say, he inspired people not only in America, but all over the world, and we should embrace it. Manage Settings contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner. A self-help book for activists, specifically focusing on the values necessary to make change. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about truth, goodness and working for justice. After reading this, Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis is one of my new heroes. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others. He appeared for Atlanta as a US Congressman for more than 30 years before his death in July 2020. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., he joined the burgeoning civil rights movement. Your highlights will appear here. In Across That Bridge, 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. Nowadays, it's frequently challenging to focus. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. Owning faith is being sure about your dreams like you are about the water is being liquid and the sky is being blue. 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. Feel free to join us on Facebook or Twitter. LEWISWhen I saw and read what happened and how it happened, it made me very sad. He called to say sorry. I'm going to continue to speak about the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. The subtitle says it all: This book was one of the most profound, intelligent, thought provoking works I have ever read. 2023 Copyright Good Book Summaries [Daily Updated], link to Employee to Entrepreneur by Steve Glaveski [Book Summary - Review], link to Noise by Joseph McCormack [Book Summary - Review]. In this engaging memoir, he details his journey through rural Alabama, the 1960s-era voting rights protests and the halls of Congress. Why has that happened? Create jobs for every person who would like to work. LEWISIf I could, the filibuster would be goodbye. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Copyright Interaction Institute for Social Change. So radical was Highlander's thought, it was placed under FBI surveillance. And it was passed. Still, he is pointed as an excellent orator. Across That Bridge Representative John Lewis (D-GA) talked about his book, Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change, in which he presents lessons he read more More. We're talking about his brand new book. These are the little lessons that the book tries to talk about -- speak about. LEWISWell, thank you so much, sir. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. What was your reaction to that? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. BILLI just wanted to ask you two quick things. BUY THIS BOOK Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change John Lewis. LEWISDiane, you're so right. Activists in the US and all over the world look to the American civil rights movement of the 1960s for inspiration on how to challenge injustice. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. I remember going there, talking with people and meeting with people on several occasions. Let's go to Indianapolis. Study and be prepared to come together as a powerful nonviolent force to bring about change. LEWISAnd as a country, as a society we can do better. His wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful ideas will inspire a new generation to usher in a freer, more peaceful society. They are recalling or recognizing that we are one. And I've thought more people would be united like, you know, young adults. Its dangerous to the future of the republic for us to let this happen. So people fear, they fear the future. I had the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in mind. They all support me. Civil rights activists transformed the ongoing unjust situations for African Americans in the strongest country of the world in just 12 years. Bold Youll find arguments that may break with predominant views. However, encouraging humankind to allow their light glow is not initiated by Lewis. You might think whether you would do such devotion in the name of humanity. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. And Dr. King said, we'll make it from Selma to Montgomery and the voting rights act will be passed. Over the decades, his answerremained the same: Faith.. REHMNow, hasn't that been before this Congress? TOMMYBlacks are aborting at five times the rate of whites. Now 65, he and Diane revisit his provocative essay. And the story of Koinonia Farm is an untold story. All of the actions, his and ours, save the strength of light on this world. 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. Representative Lewis spent three decades building bridges, working across the aisle with folks with whom he shared fundamentally different beliefs while never losing sight of his life's mission - civil rights for all. There are people that want to undo the Act. The soldiers and the annoyed group were not intended to allow protestors to pass through, with their firearms, tear gas, and batons. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. Lots of pacifist protestors were ruthlessly battered, and hospitalization was needed for some of them. LEWISThe American people didn't like it. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson, Truth: The truth is incontrovertible. To register, they needed to be tested whether they can read and write. Find out more about . Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. Sometimes I wonder whether it's in the water we drink or in the air we breathe or in the food we eat. Did you have a belief that you know it is true within all of your veins? My summer reading includes John Lewis' latest book, "Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change." The bridge referred to in the title is the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. We rate each piece of content on a scale of 110 with regard to these two core criteria. APA format Lewis, John. He thought that the eventual aim of Americas developers was alike: Making it easy, not challenging for every citizen to follow their dreams. I would take that a step further and say that every voting individual should read this book. WAYNEI'm gonna go on the opposite side of the aisle for a little bit. REHMWell, it's certainly created a great deal of discussion so we'll see where that goes. In a seemingly more partitioned world than ever, this is a message we must take into account. Helpful Youll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do. And we all cried a little to hear the president of the United States say, and we shall overcome. 1. LEWISMore than three million people showed up at the polls at the last national election, and they were turned away. Furthermore, at the time we approve this truth, it will be challenging to turn back to the old thinking and live comfortably with it. 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. He did not get angry at the racism, it attracted his attention. A must read for those in the struggle today for equality and fairness. The life of Representative John Lewis was inspirational. REHMYou think he simply made a mistake and then had to backtrack. It doesn't matter whether they're black or white, Latino or Asian American or Native American, whether they are young or middle age or older, whether they are straight or gay. With her legendary act of nonaggressive rejection, she was aiming to test her new faith in the possibility of integration. Zora Neale Hurston Maya Angelou Langston Hughes Ralph Ellison Gwendolyn Brooks Richard Wright Claude McKay Faith motivated Rosa Parks, who famously refused to surrender her seat to a white person on a segregated busin Montgomery, Alabama. Lewis is no pie-in-the-sky hippie. Every shock was further evidence that our racially fallacious society could not put out the fire for the freedom it felt. We didn't give in. And it was like what I would call the essence of the beloved community. Hachette Books. I still think in spite of all the progress and in spite of all of the changes that we've made we need to still confront the issue of class and race. Lewis and his fellow Freedom Riders demonstrated love by silently resisting the anger of an insulting regime. Nearly all the grandfathers of African Americans were condemned to slavery, so the grandchildren needed to register afresh. Lewis talks in detail about how he was able, mentally and emotionally, to put himself into situations over and over where he faced hatred, incarceration, and violence. We help you to meet your learning objectives. His new book is titled "Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change." He does go back to his home in Georgia probably every weekend. Speak up when you see something that is not fair or just. As a conservative and a Lutheran, I have a much lower opinion of human nature. The reason for the success of this movement was partly this gift. Love in action. I take a little bit of -- I guess I get a little bit bristled when I hear the congressman speak in such eloquent tones today of how we should be more civil and less divisive, et cetera, et cetera. This short book is Lewis' guide for the young activists in the world today. 7 Good. LEWISI thought I saw death. The most brutal century was the twentieth century in modern history. Tip O'Neill was the outgoing speaker, and it was a different climate, a different environment that people did meet. Like the DL I get that feeling of peace reading Lewis's words, and wonder what it would have been like to be around MLK Jr. and the others that Lewis mentions as being his inspirations and teachers. Reading this book helped me to feel some hope. Each of us must answer those questions according to the dictates of our conscience and the principles of our faith. Watch on YouTube. African American studies course. John Lewis: Across That Bridge: Life Lessons And A Vision For Change. Purchase options Better World Books. However, there were a few things about the book that cause me to lower my rating. It's titled "Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change." We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? MS. DIANE REHMThanks for joining us. Conduct of life. They're all not African American. They took huge steps, however, the war has not completely won. LEWISHe had to backtrack. The most important lesson Congressman Lewis provides is the necessity of inner transformation. This past is a significant memory that shows things may look gloomy like in the time of Lewis on the top of that bridge. While some of this felt just like what you'd expect (and have probably heard before) there were many moments where I found new insight, specifically when it came to the mindset of the activists in the civil rights movement. You say there is a unique hostility in these times that almost seems worse to me than what we experienced in the 1960s. Find a summary of this and each chapter of Bridge to Terabithia! We must be the change we seek if we are to effectively demand transformation from others. John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 - July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights activist who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020. According to Dr. King, faith is useless if not aspires you to assist people in solving their hardships. The American Civil Rights Movement has inspired people across the world to stand up for social justice. And also good morning to Congressman Lewis. Enjoy 3 days of full online access to 25,000+ summaries And then all of a sudden, it shows that he's getting -- he did get beat up. For instance, he got award money because of being the youngest Nobel Prize winner. This book provides tremendous insight on how to have a more fulfilling life. And a young man from Dr. King's organization walking beside me, name Jose Williams, said, Major, give us a moment to kneel and pray. People need to be brave and courageous and speak up when you see something that is not right. Your playing small doesnt serve the world. REHMJohn Lewis, member of the United States Congress from the Fifth District in Georgia. I absolutely loved this book for what is has to say about bringing truth and peace to America, and the world. Hachette Book Group USA, They were hit, disparaged with words, and imprisoned. Let's go to Esa in Annapolis, Md. The kids cried with fear when he mentioned the insults he and his family suffered. He calls on the Occupy Movement, the Arab Spring and other grassroots leaders to focus on the nonviolent principles that propelled his generation: Faith, patience, study, truth, peace and love. But at the same time, I had what I call an executive session with myself. What are some things that you are planning to do? We need people who have ability and capacity to lead. I went to University of New Hampshire Law School, the University of Connecticut Law School. For many people, that review would be helpful, but since I teach US history, a lot of that information was not new to me. We studied what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was all about in Montgomery and Rosa Park was all about. No government, state or federal, should tell people who they can fall in love with and get married or not. He learned what his people were going through. They are again concerned with their responsibilities for the democratic process. Risk-free: no credit card is required. But yet then he speaks of his unbridled support of Mr. Obama and then yet Mr. Obama goes out and says the GOP want to poison your air, poison your water, throw grandma off the cliff and that's okay. 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