The March: Book One, By John Lewis

Despite the court’s order to desegregate the country in the 1960’s, many Afro-Americans were still second-class citizens. In the book “The March: Book one” the authors John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, introduces the audience to the segregation conflict. Also explains how John Lewis, an important character for 1960’s civil rights movement become a leader for the Afro-Americans. Even though John Lewis’s grew up apart from the segregation conflict, some turning points redirect his life into it. Although John Lewis’s techniques to promote civil rights were not conventional. The background in which John Lewis grew up helped to build his courage and thirst of freedom. His actions were strongly attached to his moral and religious beliefs.

With the purpose of desegregating lunch counters, Lewis joins the Nashville Student Movement. Jim Lawson taught them how to protect each other, and most importantly he says, “But the hardest part to learn, to truly understand, deep in your heart. Was how to find love for your attacker” (Lewis, p.82). In other words, they were willing to win this fight showing the people how they can be valuable individuals, respecting the laws and showing their ethics. They were trying to open people’s mind with actions that demonstrate his value as individuals. After a couple protest, white people started to lose their patience and take justice in their own hands. On February 27th, 1960, another sit-in took place, and violence got an invitation too. While white people were beating them, Lewis reminds. “Violence does beget violence, but the opposite it’s just as true” (Lewis p. 100). In other words, they were being obtaining a violent response from his non-violent actions, but inside they know that it was the only way to make them see the truth at their try to desegregate the lunch counters, John Lewis goes to jail for the first time. That day, the police arrested 82 students including Lewis. In jail they were all singing, “We are not alone, we are not alone, someday we shall overcome” (Lewis p. 104).In other words, they will fight for justice until the end. Lewis felt satisfied and brave for facing the unjust consequences of his actions because he knew the waves have started to move the