John Lewis' march for civil rights continues

By Ciera Graham / Herald columnist

As the nation deals with racial upheaval and social unrest in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other countless Black men and women, Black Lives Matter protests continue to reign locally and nationally.

What we have seen during 2020 is a moral awakening of America and fervent reckoning with our American Creed. As Americans take pride in celebrating the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, many of America’s most marginalized populations are questioning the validity of this promise. Now more than ever, we need socially and politically conscious leadership that challenges the status quo and systemic injustices. We have seen historical examples of Black civil rights leaders engaging in civil disobedience, risking their lives, and stressing moral reform. Black leadership is resolute, unwavering, and resilient. Black leadership challenges the status quo. Black leadership is John Lewis.

In a world where many of us are experiencing deep skepticism about our American political system, Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, was our beacon of hope for social change. Often called the “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced” and “the conscience of the U.S. Congress,” Lewis is nothing short of an American Hero.

Lewis witnessed the deep roots of systemic injustice from childhood: He was the son of sharecroppers, born in Alabama in the 1940s. He attended segregated public schools as a young boy and was thrust into a life of confronting white supremacy, and American ideals of freedom and democracy. From organizing freedom rides to sit-ins, and to being almost beaten to death by angry white mobs while challenging the institution of Jim Crow segregation.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/graham-john-lewis-march-for-civil-rights-continues/