The graphic memoir, March, is a biography about Congressman John Lewis’ young life in rural Alabama which provides a great insight into lives of black families in 1940s and 50s under Jim Crow and segregation laws. March opens with a violent march at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which the gruesome acts later became known as “Bloody Sunday,” during this march, 600 peaceful civil rights protestors were attacked by the Alabama state troopers for not listening to their commands. The story then goes back and forth depicts Lewis growing up in rural Alabama and President Obama’s inauguration in 2009. This story of a civil rights pioneer, John Lewis, portrays a strong influence between geography, community, and politics. The correlation between these pillars of March is that they have to coexist with other in order for John Lewis to exist that the world knows today.
March Rhetorical Analysis The 1960’s civil rights movement often used persuasive language to echo the unheard voices of many individuals. Some more than others possessed the ability to exercise their potent use of language to bring forward prominent changes. In the book, March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, eloquent methods of speech play an important role. John Lewis, Martin Luther King, and George Wallace are some that expressed their beliefs through persuasive empowering words.
In both the article and the novel, power and control are major issues that shape the narrative. In To Kill A Mockingbird, the white majority thought they had control over the black people. The character of Atticus Finch represents a similar struggle for justice and fairness, just as the government attorney David Boies in the Microsoft case wanted to destroy Bill Gates credibility by presenting evidence of his wrongdoing. Atticus Finch, similarly, fights against the racist people to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of rape. As Atticus says it, "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience" (Lee, 1960, p. 105), Ultimately, both the novel and the article present a clash between those who seek to maintain their power and those who seek to promote justice and fairness.
On the subject of comparing today’s events of African Americans standing up for justice and before the 60’s when they were fighting for justice, I am going to talk about the Trayvon Martin story. Trayvon Martin was an African American teenager who was in a lot of trouble in school having been suspended three times and even was caught with drugs in his book bag by the principal of his school. After he had came from the store buying skittles and an Arizona iced tea according to George Zimmerman (the man who shot Trayvon) he had said that, "This guy looks like he 's up to no good, or he 's on drugs or something. It 's raining, and he 's just walking around. " After he had told this to the dispatcher, he ended up following Trayvon with the intent
This book represents those who were discriminated against based on their race and who were put down based on the color of their skin. This fight against discrimination had been happening for many years and thousands of individuals were tired of getting treated differently. The march on Washington was a peaceful protest where more than 250,000 people joined to have their voices heard as stated by Evans. The goal of this march was to create changes within the minority community. Where African Americans in specific had equal-paying jobs, where they would be able to have access to the same places and things as other Americans.
By the early 1960s, African Americans had seen gains made through organized campaigns that placed its participants in harm’s way but also garnered attention for their plight. One such campaign, the 1961 Freedom Rides, resulted in vicious beatings for many participants, but resulted in the Interstate Commerce Commission ruling that ended the
Americans have lost their lives for centuries in exchange for our nation’s freedom, but is every citizen really free? President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed congress following a police beat down during a peaceful protest in Selma, Alabama. The protest led by Martin Luther King became a turning point in American history; attacks on African American’s at Selma sparked reason in the eyes of many. Johnson used his address to Congress as a call to action, his goal was to ensure freedom and equality for all citizens; they shall not face persecution for the color of their skin. “We Shall Overcome” suggests that the text focuses on the constitutionality of the police beat down in Selma, Alabama and the concern of how our nation will overcome the issues of racism.
There are many that would argue that a graphic novel has no place in a classroom because they are too graphic and violent. Some would argue that the content is for children who are too lazy to read a novel full of text. March Book One and Two, are Two of Three of the trilogy written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, while illustrated by Nate Powell. The Trilogy is about John Lewis life and the Civil rights movement that occurred between the years 1954 and 1968. The Civil Right movement consisted of African-Americans fighting for equal rights.
Another rhetorical question Lewis uses is the question of "what side is the federal government on?" This highlights the game of tiptoe the government is playing with both sides of the segregation argument. Not only does this call out the government for its inert action, it wakes up the audience to how shady the government has been. John Lewis also used repetition to convey his message to the audience. When the opposing side stated "to be patient" and to wait for change, Lewis repeatedly stated the demand of the people using "we" exclaiming how "we cannot be patient and wait for our freedom, and we want it not".
The March trilogy, written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, walks us through the life of John Lewis. Mr. Lewis is a very dedicated man who committed much of his life to protecting equality and human rights within the United States. Some might say that without his influence, we might not have desegregated the south yet. From his childhood to this day, John continues to show kindness and love for all. Books 1 and 2 of March show a tremendous number of great examples of courage and leadership but there were three specific events that were the most impactful.
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” there were people being treated differently because of their skin color. This is like the present “We are the 99 percent” movement; the lower and middle class are treated different than the upper class.aise taxesr on the lower and middle class in order to lower the upper class’s income and business taxes. Prices were raised against black people to discourage them. Both past and present protested with signs and rallies to get what they wanted. This shows how “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the “We are the 99 Percent” movement are connected.
Lewis’ Turning Points In the graphic novels “March” by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, John tells us the story of his life in the civil rights movement. Throughout his journey, he experiences many events that change him. Although there are many turning points in his life, three of them stood out to me the most. There is the day he got his first bible, his trip to Buffalo, and his attendance of Jim Lawson’s workshop on nonviolence.
“The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the american society” John Lewis. John Lewis a US representative, born and raised in Troy Alabama during the times of this book. He experienced race inequality almost everyday experienced it first hand. He mentions how it’s a part of history in this nation. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a guy that experiences social inequality in a courtroom and outside also.
Emotionally he sees his brothers, sisters, parents and children being treated with violence, injustice and hate because of the color of their skin. This is not the America that tells all men and women are created equally and will be treated equally under the law. This is injustice. Later he appeals with an authoritative voice of St. Thomas Aquinas: “To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in
What does freedom mean for the Negro chained by practices of Jim Crow, but inspired by the promise of equality in the Civil Rights Act (1964)? Why did the March on Washington have a profound effect in shaping the trajectory of the Civil Rights Movement and propelling the movement on the national stage? How did “We Shall Overcome” shape the ethos of the Civil Rights Movement in 1963? Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech and Mr. Baldwin’s
