In a new book titled "Across that Bridge," Congressman Lewis draws on lessons learned as a leader of the civil rights movement in the '60s, to inspire today's grass roots activists fighting for social, economic and political change. Our guest is Congressman John Lewis, Democrat from Georgia's 5th congressional district and author of a newly released historical narrative titled, "Across T. They managed to clear the intrinsic load of hate in white Southerners as well.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); 40 years later of the attack in Rock Hill, Lewis is surprisingly called by someone. It passed through the resistance of the South and caused directly the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most influential law passed by Congress in 50 years.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'goodbooksummary_com-leader-3','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-leader-3-0'); The civil rights movement was a challenge for the legal rights of African Americans. We can do much better. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. Winston Churchill, Peace: Peace is softening what is rigid in our hearts. And that's what we need. They explain how he was able to face down violence and respond in a non-violent manner to people who thought he was their enemy, and later offer his opponents love and reconciliation. People die for that right. It's almost sacred. I have taught this for years, and it was good to hear that I've been on the right track, but the depth and nuance of his explanation deepened my understanding considerably. BILLGood morning, Diane. This clause let anybody vote without any obstacle if their grandfathers had the right to vote. 11:07:45 MS. DIANE REHM Congressman Lewis joins me in the studio. Thank you for the very kind words. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. Eventually, in activist societies, lots of stress is placed on determined, strong movements, such as protests. In 2014 Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in The Atlantic that he planned to refuse medical treatment after age 75. I listened to the audiobook, and if I were reading this as a book, I would not have put it down. LEWISHe's a leader today and he will be a great leader tomorrow. What we say here about books applies to all formats we cover. Let's go to Seattle, Wash. Good morning, Kareem, you're on the air. Till the 1960s, to prevent African Americans from using their rights, the government of the Alabama State and the Ku Klux Klan tried every way they could. It takes time but it can be done. Nobody could hurt him. However, these gloomy times are only initial points for better things. REHMWhat do you think of a new poll suggesting that there is a racial divide when it comes to who voters trust with their economic futures? In this engaging memoir, he details his journey through rural Alabama, the 1960s-era voting rights protests and the halls of Congress. It's this feeling that I've been down so long and to down and get me down. But yet then he speaks of his unbridled support of Mr. Obama and then yet Mr. Obama goes out and says the GOP want to poison your air, poison your water, throw grandma off the cliff and that's okay. Excerpted from the book Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change by Congressman John Lewis. Hachette Book Group USA, You go into the large urban centers. We need people who have ability and capacity to lead. Hyperion, $22.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-4013-2411-7 Faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and. Its dangerous to the future of the republic for us to let this happen. He learned what his people were going through. This is the typical life path that continues to rule contemporary culture. Just the way we -- particularly how everything's -- everyone's reacted towards the Trayvon Lewis (sic) incident in Florida. And it was like what I would call the essence of the beloved community. LEWISWell, I happen to believe in the Democratic Party. When I first came to Congress, I came and Tom Foley was the speaker. LEWISWe've had job's proposal introduced. REHMAnd I'm so happy to have you here. While at times he comes off as overly optimistic about the future of America and the potentialities of people throughout the world, he lived a life that confirms what he says, and he earned that optimism. Does the risk for a prize that you might not see with your eyes pay off? REHMWe have an email here from Alex who wants to know "your feelings regarding the African American community's overall opposition to gay marriage. REHMThanks for calling. ESAYes. Our election become an auction and it will go to the highest bidder. But as young white Americans, as young Latinos and young Asian Americans and Native -- they're just wonderful. Speaking from his own experiences in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Lewis provides guidance for the activists of today and tomorrow. Thursday, Feb 16 2023The showdown in Florida over an A.P. You're welcome to be part of the conversation. LEWISWell, thank you so much, sir. In Across That Bridge, Congressman John Lewis draws from his experience as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful principles for anyone interested in challenging injustices and inspiring real change toward a freer, more peaceful society. REHMAnd to, pardon me, Wayne in Virginia. My favorite part was relating the connection between Mrs. Rosa Parks and Myles Horton's Highlander School, and Highlander's prominent role in instructing demonstrators in nonviolent civil action. But we shouldn't be going around putting people down because of their age, race, class. (Thanks Laura!) So for young people, seniors, it's hard -- it'll be difficult. This is a man who has lived to see the change. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. And I'd just like to say that my generation does seem to be faltering a bit, but I'm doing my best to tell my friends and people of my generation of the work that you've done, you know, for me particularly as an Asian American, how much you REHMAlex, Alex I'd be interested to know when you say you see your generation faltering a bit, what do you mean? Lots of white people from the South could fight for continuing discrimination. Summary of John Lewis's Across That Bridge; Summary of John Lewis's Across That Bridge ebook By Everest Media. ESAGood morning, Diane. At the time people started to quit their permissions, the conditions started to change. I picket an abortion clinic four times a week here in the city of Fort Worth. Thus, nothing could undermine your belief that your convictions are correct. Every page is filled with lines that are quotable. They're all not African American. Lots of people, including politicians and citizens, are not ready for this devotion. You are the light. The soldiers and the annoyed group were not intended to allow protestors to pass through, with their firearms, tear gas, and batons. Call us on 800-433-8850. LEWISAnd as a country, as a society we can do better. The Prologue opens on Edmund Pettus Bridge, where Lewis and other protestors face terrible violence from local law enforcement. REHMWho do you see as some of the most promising young African American leaders today? The obvious being his crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday (you can look here to see the John Lewis Bridge Project which seeks to rename this bridge after him), but the title is also very fitting because core to Lewis's belief system is the fact that to make progress with . Why risk beating, torture, even death to sacrifice ourselves within the network of our family, on our jobs, in our communities, the nation, or the world at large for the sake of progress we may not live to see? If there was ever a book I needed at a certain time, it was this one. The book outlines a process for peaceful protest. However, he never used violence and not even raised a hand to the assailants to defend himself. He and his peers were soldiers of peace during the civil rights movement. In reality, facing violence and inequality made the faith of Lewis and his counterparts more powerful. We made a lot of progress but we still have a great distance to go. Representative Lewis spent three decades building bridges, working across the aisle with folks with whom he shared fundamentally different beliefs while never losing sight of his life's mission - civil rights for all. Additionally, Congressman Lewis' book is very spiritual and courageous. John Lewis is an amazing human being, a true leader & has an unbelievable outlook on life today in America & the world which I find even more incredible because of the things he has lived through & endured. For many people, that review would be helpful, but since I teach US history, a lot of that information was not new to me. 2023 Copyright Good Book Summaries [Daily Updated], link to Employee to Entrepreneur by Steve Glaveski [Book Summary - Review], link to Noise by Joseph McCormack [Book Summary - Review]. Across that Bridge: A vision for change and the future for of America. When in fact, a lot of the evidence has shown exactly the opposite, that he has been tutoring blacks, that he has been bending over backwards to help them. And I just want to thank you, sir. Do join us, 800-433-8850. Tip O'Neill was the outgoing speaker, and it was a different climate, a different environment that people did meet. In my country of birth, we call you honorable as you're a member of parliament from Sierra Leone. Faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and reconciliation: these are the buckets into which Lewis pours his message about the inner transformation that must be realized to effect lasting social change. A civil rights pioneer and Georgia congressman, Lewis (Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of a Movement) seeks to inspire nonviolent activism in a time that he regards as the most violent in history. Engaging Youll read or watch this all the way through the end. I just re-read this book for a class I'm teaching this semester on the history, philosophy, and practice of nonviolence. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson, Truth: The truth is incontrovertible. Today, we are still racially divided although we work together and we go to school and we play, but our hearts and our minds still seem to be from the past. At its worst, it resembles an extended campaign speech: Some people have told me that I am a rare bird in the blue sky of dreamers despite every attempt to keep me down, I have not been shaken. In between these extremes is the advice of a wise uncle who has earned the right to say his peace. The tale starts in 1870, at the time the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution provided African Americans the right to vote, leastways in theory. Join us on Facebook or Twitter. When they read about it, when they saw it on television, heard it on the radio, they start protesting. Thank you. LEWISDiane, you're so right. Never let anyoneany person or any forcedampen, dim or diminish your light. And President Lyndon Johnson made one of the most meaningful speeches than any American president had made in modern time eight days later on March 15, 1965. We're talking about his brand new book. Thank you so much. Networks for Change: Values Before Vision? Does it tell something about human advancement? 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