John Lewis March Analysis

John Lewis has been the U.S. representative for Georgia since 1987, but that is not where his political career began. In the series, March, by John Lewis, it takes the reader back to the very beginning of Lewis’ life where he lived on a chicken farm in Alabama. He then begins fighting for civil rights as a young man and was even one of the famous speakers in Selma. Before he could get to where he is now, John Lewis had to go through a series of events that would change his perspective on life. Lewis has had many turning points throughout his civil rights journey, but there are four specific moments that helped him grow into the man that many people of color looked up to in hope of change. His passion began with his first bible given to him

Before the speech was given, Lewis was told that his speech was too harsh and he had to change it. Once the speech was edited, Lewis went out and gave a powerful speech to the people in Selma (see figure one). He expresses his exhaustion by stating, “We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now! We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again.” (Lewis and Aydin V2 169). In making this comment, Lewis is urging the crowd to continue marching and to not stop fighting until they receive the rights they deserve as Americans. People have told African Americans to wait until the time is right but it seems as if the time is never right. John Lewis himself says, “And then you holler, ‘be patient’. How long can we be patient? [...] We must say ‘wake up America! Wake up!’ For we cannot stop, and we will not and cannot be patient” (Lewis et all 170-171). In other words, Lewis is tired of waiting for change to happen, he wants change to happen now and not when it’s best convenient for others. This speech spoke to the people of color who were tired of being mistreated and could no longer wait patiently for America to