His Truth Is Marching On Summary

“What are you doing for others?” This question, central to John Lewis's life, challenges us to consider our role in the fight for equality and justice.

1. Early Life: Faith as a Foundation for Justice

John Lewis grew up in rural Alabama, facing the harsh realities of Jim Crow segregation. His childhood experiences of injustice shaped his worldview and ignited his desire for change.

He lived in a small, humble house without basic amenities, where he helped his family farm while attending segregated schools. The disparity between his rundown school and the well-maintained one for white children planted early seeds of discontent with racial inequality. However, his faith offered solace and purpose—he was deeply inspired by the sermons and community at the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Hearing Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermons on the social gospel introduced Lewis to the idea of combining faith with activism. King’s teachings convinced him that spiritual convictions required action for justice here on Earth. This connection between religious belief and the fight for civil rights became a lifelong guiding principle for Lewis.

Examples

• His family's meager income from sharecropping contrasted sharply with the economic opportunities available for white families.
• The inspiring sermons Lewis practiced on his farm animals, particularly his chickens, hinted at his future as a powerful orator.
• Martin Luther King's message of the social gospel moved him profoundly, expanding his understanding of faith's role in fighting injustice.

2. Nonviolence as a Tool for Social Change

As a young student, Lewis learned that nonviolence could be a powerful method for demanding change. This strategy became central to his work in the civil rights movement.

While at college, Lewis attended Reverend James Lawson Jr.'s workshops on nonviolent resistance, which built on Gandhi's teachings. Lawson taught students that meeting hate with love could transform society. Inspired, Lewis joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and began organizing sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Nashville.

Despite intense hostility, Lewis and his peers held their ground. They remained peaceful even as they were burned with cigarettes, beaten, and arrested. These sit-ins were monumental in challenging systemic segregation, gaining national attention, and demonstrating that disciplined nonviolence could produce results.

Examples

• Workshops with Reverend Lawson introduced Lewis to how Gandhi used nonviolence to resist British colonialism.
• Lewis led peaceful sit-ins at businesses that adhered to segregation policies, risking his safety to push for equality.
• Despite being gassed and attacked, Lewis remained committed to using love and peace against violence and hate.

3. Courage on the Freedom Rides

The Freedom Rides of 1961 featured Lewis taking nonviolent resistance to new, dangerous levels as activists sought to integrate interstate bus travel.

When the Supreme Court ruled that segregated buses and stations were illegal, Lewis joined an SNCC effort to challenge the South's refusal to comply. The Freedom Riders, both Black and white, rode buses together into violently segregated areas. In Rock Hill, South Carolina, Lewis was brutally beaten alongside his white companion but refused to press charges, instead offering the attackers forgiveness.

Despite facing arrests, bombings, and mob violence across states like Alabama, Lewis and his group persisted. Their bravery on the Freedom Rides forced the federal government to confront the rampant disobedience to Supreme Court decisions in the South.

Examples

• Lewis and a fellow Rider were savagely attacked in Rock Hill for simply entering a bus station waiting area together.
• A Freedom Riders’ bus in Anniston, Alabama, was firebombed while they barely escaped alive.
• Their actions compelled the Kennedy administration to send federal protection and further address civil rights.

4. Leadership at the March on Washington

As chairman of the SNCC, Lewis played a vital role in the iconic 1963 March on Washington, delivering a passionate speech that marked him as a national civil rights leader.

At just 23 years old, Lewis stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and other movement icons to address hundreds of thousands on the National Mall. His fiery speech called on leaders and citizens to take immediate action for justice, emphasizing that token gestures and delays were unacceptable.

While Lewis's rhetoric was bold, it was also strategic—his speech underscored young people's urgency in achieving real change. Though others urged tempered approaches, Lewis pushed boundaries, epitomizing frustration with the slow pace of progress.

Examples

• Lewis courageously criticized political leaders for failures to act on civil rights despite facing resistance from moderates.
• His involvement with the March placed him in conversation with figures like President John F. Kennedy.
• The march itself defied public skepticism, later becoming a landmark event in the fight for civil rights.

5. Bloody Sunday at Selma

The 1965 Selma march, immortalized as “Bloody Sunday,” was a turning point in the fight for voting rights, and Lewis was at its heart.

Lewis and over 600 peaceful marchers attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge were violently assaulted by state troopers using clubs, tear gas, and other weapons. Lewis suffered a cracked skull but maintained his commitment to nonviolence. Scenes of the brutality shocked the nation and drew attention to the urgent need for voting rights legislation.

This event pushed President Lyndon B. Johnson to press Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, giving Black citizens access to the ballot box even in the South's most oppressive regions.

Examples

• The march aimed to protest restrictions like literacy tests that kept Black citizens disenfranchised.
• Footage of the violence, including Lewis’s injuries, galvanized national support for the cause.
• The Voting Rights Act was signed months later, addressing many of the voting barriers the marchers sought to overturn.

6. A Long Career Dedicated to Change

John Lewis didn’t stop his activism after the 1960s—he carried his relentless fight for justice into decades of public service and politics.

After working in voter outreach, Lewis held various elected positions, eventually serving in Congress for Georgia's Fifth District. As a lawmaker, he championed civil rights legislation, immigrant rights, health care reform, and social justice initiatives. He often participated in protests well into his years as a congressman, displaying his unwavering commitment to peaceful resistance.

He stood firm on his values, even when it meant dissenting against popular opinion. Lewis’s activist spirit endured, as he joined movements like opposing apartheid in South Africa and advocating for Black Lives Matter.

Examples

• Lewis was repeatedly arrested at protests, including demonstrations against Darfur’s genocide and the separation of migrant families.
• He worked tirelessly to bring racial equality discussions into legislative debates on Capitol Hill.
• Lewis inspired young leaders by reminding them to never stop fighting for justice.

7. Intersection of Civil Rights and Global Issues

Lewis saw the fight for civil rights as connected to broader struggles for human dignity and justice worldwide.

From South Africa to Sudan, Lewis protested against systemic oppression wherever it occurred. He believed the lessons of the civil rights movement applied internationally and frequently joined global causes, using his platform to amplify voices of marginalized communities.

He viewed this global vision as a continuation of the work started by the Freedom Riders, emphasizing that love, equality, and justice transcend borders.

Examples

• Protested apartheid at the South African embassy, bringing attention to racial injustice abroad.
• Advocated for international human rights as part of U.S. political discussions.
• Supported climate and immigration justice, emphasizing their connection to equity and dignity.

8. Legacy of Inspiration and Optimism

Though Lewis faced countless setbacks, he always believed in the power of a just cause. His optimism inspired generations to fight for equality.

Even into his final years, Lewis praised young activists, including those in the Black Lives Matter movement, for continuing the struggle. He believed progress was inevitable if people persevered and aligned themselves with “good trouble.” This philosophy of hope motivated others to keep moving forward, even when victories seemed far off.

Examples

• He continued mentoring new activists, urging them to embrace nonviolence and idealism.
• Praised Black Lives Matter protesters for demonstrating courage and determination.
• Defined "good trouble" as the kind of necessary actions that change unjust systems.

9. Faith Linked to Action

For Lewis, his Christian faith was never separate from his activism—it was the foundation of his life’s work.

He believed deeply in forgiveness, love, and the idea that every step toward equality was rooted in morality. His faith inspired not just his perseverance but also the belief that reconciliation was as important as resistance.

Examples

• Preached the importance of nonviolence as a reflection of moral integrity.
• Forgave those who attacked him, seeing redemption as essential to justice.
• Modeled compassion and understanding, even when advocating for radical change.

Takeaways

1. Engage with causes that align with your belief system—faith or principles can guide your path toward making meaningful change.
2. Use nonviolent resistance and persistence when challenging injustices, no matter how daunting obstacles may seem.
3. Pass on lessons from the past to inspire future generations—remember that progress builds on the shoulders of those who came before.