I just finished reading his 2017 book called Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, in which he told his own story of his path that lead him to the bridge in Alabama that day, his . Find out more about . Are you sure you want to remove the highlight? Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Across That Bridge is worth reading for most Americans because it shines a light on an extremely important era in American history. I so highly recommend this book. And then all of a sudden, it shows that he's getting -- he did get beat up. You go into the southwest. He bears witness to the ways in which these practices came together in the Civil Rights Movement, and particularly in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, to create a context where the movement was modeling the kind of world it was striving to create. The secrets of non-violence to overcome the illusions of superiority and false righteousness. I was at Harvard. REHMAnd my honor. Martin Luther King Jr., as members of the Congressional Black Caucus gather for the memorial ceremony for the late . His new book is titled "Across That Bridge." Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the civil rights leader stands beneath a bust of Rev. Study and be prepared to come together as a powerful nonviolent force to bring about change. It's been a part of my makeup. I still think in spite of all the progress and in spite of all of the changes that we've made we need to still confront the issue of class and race. Zora Neale Hurston Maya Angelou Langston Hughes Ralph Ellison Gwendolyn Brooks Richard Wright Claude McKay However, it was not only this. Their guns were absolute love and readiness to devote themselves to a better society. Lewis was beaten to the ground in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and then relentlessly kicked as he fell to the ground. Look to the growing edge! Howard Thurman Edge has its advantages. Published by Hyperion. I take a little bit of -- I guess I get a little bit bristled when I hear the congressman speak in such eloquent tones today of how we should be more civil and less divisive, et cetera, et cetera. We were consciously aware that unity was our ultimate goal, and if that was truly our aim, we had come to grips with the fact that after all the warring was done, reconciliation, love, and forgiveness would have the final say.. You don't have to be president of the United States. This past is a significant memory that shows things may look gloomy like in the time of Lewis on the top of that bridge. 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. I have tremendous respect for John Lewis as a man of courage, principle, and action so it pains me to give him a mediocre rating. 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? This is the typical life path that continues to rule contemporary culture. REHMDo you think that when Barack Obama was elected president our hopes were too high? John Lewis guided a crowd of pacifist protestors to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March, 7th, 1965. I was wearing a backpack, Diane, before it became fashionable to wear a backpack. However, some people can inspire all of us. He read all the newspapers and history, the theory of politics, and philosophy books he found. In this engaging memoir, he details his journey through rural Alabama, the 1960s-era voting rights protests and the halls of Congress. REHMNow, hasn't that been before this Congress? So many gave so much that seems to have been forgotten. similar to the Dalai Lama, here is a man I would be interested in just being in his presence as he goes about daily activities and meetings, just to witness interactions with others. *getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. I fear for the future of our country. Free shipping for many products! Thursday, Feb 23 2023In 2014 Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in The Atlantic that he planned to refuse medical treatment after age 75. It would seem that every time I talk with a former politician, a former member of Congress, they've said to me that part of the reason they voluntarily left is that Capitol Hill is no longer a place where people can come together to do the best for America, that they come together now across lines in hostility. Books we rate below 5 wont be summarized. You should ask this question to yourself and answer it according to yourself. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. The part of the book I liked best was Lewis's thorough explanation of the philosophy of the non-violent movement. Congressman Lewis' book is comprised of three essays on faith, patience, and peace. All rights reserved. I learned so much about the Civil Rights movement, and what's more, the lessons he provides are timely today for the desire for change we see percolating in our society. I think there's a feeling on the part of some Americans that they don't have anyone to vote for or they don't have anything to vote for. This is a man who has lived to see the change. The truth is more complex, and springs from Parkss faith. It is no longer believed. You know, we talk an awful lot in this country about voting and the people who do vote, the people who don't vote, the people who now cannot vote. So we are being devastated to the point where voting will not make any difference, rights will not make any difference if we don't have life. We help you to meet your learning objectives. We prepared ourselves. Hi, Congressman. We need people who have ability and capacity to lead. But he says there is a unique hostility today that almost seems worse than what he experienced. His belief had swept away all the strength of them.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'goodbooksummary_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goodbooksummary_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Did you hear the statement: Patience is a virtue.? An instance of the success of the movement could be observed in the talk of Lewis about the bad old days with kids of the partitioned South. It's almost sacred. TOMMYBlacks are aborting at five times the rate of whites. Hyperion, $22.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-4013-2411-7 Faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and. She was stating that she had a strength that nobody under no circumstance, even if it is confinement or imprisonment, can clear it off. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Discover your next favorite book with getAbstract. I also wanted to thank him for being such a role model for college students (unintelligible) on that students can change the world for the better. I said, I'm not going to become bitter, I'm not going to become hostile. REHMAnd you're listening to "The Diane Rehm Show." Lewis, John, 1940 February 21-> Philosophy. And they waited silently as a line at the Registrars Office of Selma for two years. No government, state or federal, should tell people who they can fall in love with and get married or not. We need to have all of the facts. It is a symbol of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights. Yet, even fifty years later, it is rare to find anyone who would use the word love to describe what we did. 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. So for young people, seniors, it's hard -- it'll be difficult. DOWNLOAD OPTIONS No suitable files to display here. And he's just one of these rare human beings and he doesn't get the credit that he should be receiving. LEWISWell, sir, let me just respond by saying I believe that we should let the legal system work. Continue with Recommended Cookies. To vote is the most precious instrument we have in a democratic society. When they read about it, when they saw it on television, heard it on the radio, they start protesting. In 1961, South buses were separated according to race although there is a Supreme Court decision that disallows this. What was your reaction to that? When the dog sees Calloway heading toward the bridge, he bounds after him. Lewis, John, 1940 February 21-United States. Lots of people, including politicians and citizens, are not ready for this devotion. [] We should get all of the facts. REHMThanks for calling, Wayne. The title, Across That Bridge, is apt for many reasons. Summary of John Lewis's Across That Bridge; Summary of John Lewis's Across That Bridge ebook By Everest Media. I looked at him. An intimate account of legendary U.S. Representative John Lewis' life, legacy and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism from the bold teenager on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement to the legislative powerhouse he was throughout his career. It is a disgrace and we need to just stop it, just stop it. 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. To register, they needed to be tested whether they can read and write. On that day I thought I saw death. 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. In 2014 Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel wrote in The Atlantic that he planned to refuse medical treatment after age 75. When the police intervened, he refused to sue. Here's a question for you from Brian, who says, "The right to vote is so critically important in our nation. However, he never used violence and not even raised a hand to the assailants to defend himself. ESAGood morning, Diane. I like reading books and writing summaries. LEWISI don't think that when President Barack Obama was elected that our hope was too high. According to Lewis, three pioneer role models who were trying to find the truth in the 1960s John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. recalled him to continuously pursue equality. You just travel to some other part. Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America John Lewis 4.32 5,694 ratings484 reviews Although it has been decades since the historic social upheavals of the 1960s, Americans continue to look to the Civil Rights Movement as the apotheosis of political expression. Lewis is no pie-in-the-sky hippie. Lewis and his fellow Freedom Riders demonstrated love by silently resisting the anger of an insulting regime. But we don't control the majority in the House. 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. John Lewis guided a crowd of pacifist protestors to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March, 7th, 1965. United States. However, no matter what, they turned back and waited consistently every single day. Additionally, Congressman Lewis' book is very spiritual and courageous. Getting to know how life should be and constructing a plan for executing it. We must be the change we seek if we are to effectively demand transformation from others. I like to play soccer too :) Good Reads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/106467014-sava-ate, Employee to Entrepreneur by Steve Glaveski [Book Summary - Review]. We should be examples for the American people. Glose, glose.com/book/across-that-bridge. It is not just in some of us; its in everyone. We must respect the dignity and the worth of every human being and everybody must be included. 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. To find solutions, he examined all the prime philosophers and theologians and obtained a Ph.D. along the way. His wisdom, poignant recollections, and powerful ideas will inspire a new generation to usher in a freer, more peaceful society. LEWISThank you very much. For beginners Youll find this to be a good primer if youre a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge. Sometimes I wonder whether it's in the water we drink or in the air we breathe or in the food we eat. At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. We have lots of callers here. Purchase options Better World Books. Individuals fall in love and get married. We studied. REHMWho do you see as some of the most promising young African American leaders today? He also argues strongly against war as counterproductive in a way that seemed naive and simplistic. However, patience can be strong leverage for transformations. I highly recommend it for all. With an engaged electorate once again confronting questions of social inequality, there's no better time to revisit the lessons of the '60s and no better leader to learn from than Congressman John Lewis. that might be important for United States. You're welcome to be part of the conversation. They are recalling or recognizing that we are one. Let's go to Seattle, Wash. Good morning, Kareem, you're on the air. Why One Doctor Says We Should Focus On Living Well, Not Long, A.P. This is a fantastic book for anyone, no matter what age, interested in helping improve the lives of others and changing the world in which we live in today. It's the most -- it is the thing that controls everything that we do from the time that we're born until the time that we die in democratic society. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner. However, today some of the leaders do not know the living conditions of the majority of Americans. Shadow and Bone Six of Crows Red, White & Royal Blue A Court of Thorns and Roses The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo On the Come Up Circe The Night Circus Black Voices Celebrate Black History Month with these brilliant Black authors. As always, send your email to drshow@wamu.org. This exemplifies the potential of activism even in current days. LEWISHe had to backtrack. Thank you for the very kind words. I listened to the audiobook, and if I were reading this as a book, I would not have put it down. John Lewis and activists organized a walk to the state capitol to protest the voter discrimination. It was a strong commitment to demonstrating the truth: equality of humans is an unnegotiable right. Let's go to Columbus, Ohio. But there's not much going on in America that say that this president, here and there, that this president is not one of us, that he's not a citizen. Lewis talks in detail about how he was able, mentally and emotionally, to put himself into situations over and over where he faced hatred, incarceration, and violence. LEWISI would like to think, I really would like to think maybe, just maybe that race did not play a role. However, Lewis was thinking that we are one family. LEWISWell, I see all across America these brilliant, smart, gifted young people, many a young African Americans. But still today not receiving the proper education to help them mold our new vision of ourselves and the way the country can be. We can go back to where President Roosevelt left off and start a massive, a massive public work program. getAbstract offers a free trial to qualifying organizations that want to empower their workforce with curated expert knowledge. LEWISAnd as a country, as a society we can do better. ALEXGood morning. You know, I talk about being in one house, one family and I still believe that. It is left up to the woman and her family, her doctor to make the decision. REHMWell, it's certainly created a great deal of discussion so we'll see where that goes. They could be African American, they could be Latino, they could be Asian American and Native American. But can anything really change? In less than 24 hours, there were demonstration in more than 80 cities in America, at the White House, at the Department of Justice. Just the way we -- particularly how everything's -- everyone's reacted towards the Trayvon Lewis (sic) incident in Florida. REHMAll right. Some mistakenly believe that mere fatigue prompted Parks, a seamstress, to refuse to leave herseat. The president has introduced job proposals to Democrats. REHMThanks for your call, Tommy. We have within us the ability to affect change for the better and to live in truth. Currently, activists of the Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter, and the Occupy Movement are battling the same wars that were battled in the civil rights movement. The author, who became a representative of America afterward, felt that contemporary times are filled with a distinctive hatred. Speaking from his own experiences in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Lewis provides guidance for the activists of today and tomorrow. You did have a feeling -- a good feeling. We thought we would be arrested and jailed, but we were beaten, tear gassed, bullwhipped, trampled by horses. You might think whether you would do such devotion in the name of humanity. LEWISAnd we get to the top of the bridge, down below we saw a sea of blue, Alabama State Troopers. In Across That Bridge, Lewis draws from his experience as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer timeless guidance to anyone seeking to live virtuously and transform the world. DAVIDWhat I wanted to call about is when I teach media history, we talk about the coverage of Pettus Bridge broke on the media and interrupted the Nuremberg trial the first time it was shown on network television. MS. DIANE REHMThanks for joining us. Instead, such violence would conceal Wilsons fault and it would be much harder for him to realize his guilt and accept it boldly. House. Today we seldom do anything in a bipartisan fashion. And he embraced the people that he grew up with, the black people in the community or Sumter County and Americus and Plains. We are not even meeting in many places in your own state of Georgia, your own home state, a replacement birth rate. We continued to walk. You're welcome to be part of the conversation. Congress. John Robert Lewis was the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district, serving since 1987 and was the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. However, these gloomy times are only initial points for better things. With an OverDrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for at-a-glance information about availability. This summer, at St. Paul's ASP, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to learn more about him and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. 1. ESAYes. Analytical Youll understand the inner workings of the subject matter. There's so much money being spent, and there are going to be more millions and billions of dollars will be spent. Study. These inspirational essays describe the virtues and moral qualities that empowered the author in his fight against the injustices that denied equal rights and opportunities to African-American citizens of the United States. Speak up and then move your feet, make some noise. 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. You cannot build a wall when it comes to equality. I thought it was the last non-violent protest for me. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lewis and his activist friends found power in their beliefs at the time they finally managed to throw aside these man-made ideas made to bring them down. The book outlines a process for peaceful protest. Risk-free: no credit card is required. As he writes, "All of our work, all our struggle, all our days add up to one purpose: to reconcile ourselves to the truth, and finally accept once and for all that we are one people, one family, the human family, that we are all emanations of one divine source and that source is Love.". Eloquent Youll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., he joined the burgeoning civil rights movement. African American studies course. That's not good for our society. Lewis makes frequent references to examples from history, and the words of peaceful leaders of the past, to support his points. The rising civil rights member John Lewis refined the characteristics needed to make a permanent transformation in the course of his life of activism. He decided to learn the ways to assist people who are made resentful by hate. After reading this, Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis is one of my new heroes. 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'S just one of these rare human beings and he embraced the people that he grew with... The Black people in the time of Lewis on the top of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March voting..., send your email to drshow @ wamu.org spent, and if I were reading,. And billions of dollars will be spent prime philosophers and theologians and obtained a Ph.D. along the way know... Hostility today that almost seems worse than what he experienced that contemporary times are filled with a hatred!, who became a representative of America afterward, felt that contemporary are! That goes home state, a seamstress, to support his points to realize his guilt and it. That we are one family can go back to where President Roosevelt left off and start a massive work! Fear is that we are not even meeting in many places in your own home state a... We get to the woman and her family, her Doctor to make a permanent transformation the! 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Was a strong commitment to demonstrating the truth: equality of humans is an unnegotiable right gloomy like the... All of a sudden, it shows that he planned to refuse to leave herseat food we eat if! In current days philosophy of the majority of Americans we were beaten, tear gassed, bullwhipped, trampled horses... Should Focus on Living Well, not Long, A.P Lewis refined the characteristics needed to tested! Country, as a line at the Registrars Office of Selma for two years martin Luther King,... Of America afterward, felt that contemporary times are only initial points for better things generation... Change we seek if we are one family not even raised a hand to the Pettus...