‘John Lewis: A Life’ explores his adherence to the concept of ‘good trouble’ and ability to adapt to changing times.
State troopers swing billy clubs to break up a civil rights voting march in Selma, Ala., March 7, 1965. John Lewis, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee is being beaten by a state trooper. – – disruption to bring about positive change – but Greenberg shows how much and how well Lewis adapted to changing times in the movement and society.
I’m not a cynic about politics. We need politicians but good and effective politicians. I came to admire the way that John Lewis could be a success in protest and then in politics and stay the same man all the way through. He learned a new set of skills – how to work the Democratic leadership, knowing when to find a partner across the aisle, knowing when to compromise, even when to go negative in a campaign – but I don’t think he fundamentally changed his character.
Q. You recount a time when someone called Lewis’ office, spewing all sorts of hateful and racist language. Lewis called the man back, which “stunned the constituent, who immediately apologized and began talking respectfully.” He was the most ready and willing to do all this non-violently, but there were so many young men and women who were ready to get hit, to put their life on the line, because they believed in this cause. Not as many today are that willing or capable of that kind of courage. They get harassed by the cops and they complain; they think it’s unfair that they might have to go to jail. Lewis just said, “Of course we go to jail. That’s part of what this is all about.
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