John Lewis was an african american man who sadly died on July 17th, 2020. Before his death though, he wrote an essay called ‘Together, you can redeem the soul of our nation.’ In this essay Lewis wrote a lot about what he observed in our world and country but also gave instruction to following generations. He told the generation, who he saw protesting outside and younger generations that will follow to do some important things. To look, listin, act, and learn in a safe and calculated manner.
Lewis recalled a time when he went out and saw the Black Lives Matter protests and it reminded him that the fight for equality is still raging on. He then reminded the readers that he had people who died and they had people to want justice for them too. “ Emmett Till was my George Floyd. He was my Rayshard Brooks, Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor. He was 14 when he was killed, and I was only 15 years old at the time. I will never ever forget the moment when it became so clear that he could easily have been me.” Lewis reminds the audience that this has been going on for years, but he sees the similarities between the reason why the protests are going on.
Lewis goes on to say that he remembered hearing Dr Martin Luther King Jr. talking on the radio. “Like so many young people today, I was searching for a way out, or some might say a way in, and then I heard the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on an old radio. He was talking about the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence. He said we are all complicit when we tolerate injustice. He said it is not enough to say it will get better by and by. He said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. When you see something that is not right, you must say something.” Which leads into the next topic Lewis spoke about.
Lewis talked about how he understands that democracy won’t always be forever, so he encouraged young people to safely protest and make a change by voting because you don’t know how long you will have that right before someone decides to take it away. “ You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.
Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.”
Lewis then goes on to talk about learning your history and your country’s history and learn from their past mistakes and victories and understand why and where they came from and what it caused. “You must also study and learn the lessons of history because humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to build union between movements stretching across the globe because we must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of others. Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring. When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war.”
In conclusion, John Lewis understood why the protests were and are still raging on but he also remembers what was the cost and how it started. He reminds his audience, being that of the future generations, that if they see foul play they need to call it out. He tells them to look, listen, act and learn from everything in their day to day lives. Now even though John Lewis is no longer with us, his words should still be remembered and acted now and forever.
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