In Remembrance of Congressman John Lewis: A Review of ‘March’

7/17/2022

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

As we march through July (pun SOOOO intended!!) – the month for all things patriotic – it’s bittersweet to remember the passing of one the greatest patriots this country has ever seen – Congressman John Lewis (February 21, 1940, to July 17, 2020). Admirably, he spent his entire life fighting for equality and justice through peaceful and nonviolent means and those lessons should be shared with all who seek the same. For, without his contribution to the Civil Rights Movement and his political career that followed, there’s no telling where we might be today. Therefore, with education AND comics (of course…LOL!!) in mind, I’d like to take a look at the Congressman’s very own trilogy of graphic novels titled: March (Top Shelf Productions; IDW Publishing), that chronicle the tumultuous Civil Rights era. Beginning with a bit of background, take a seat at the front of the bus (*WINK*), or the head of the class as it were, and let’s get this journey started.

Background

Convinced to create the comics by Mr. Lewis’ personal Telecommunications and Technology Policy Aide – Co-Author/Transcriber Andrew Aydin – the March Trilogy released as a series from 2013 to 2016. The reception was fantastic!! Everyone from politicians, academic scholars, celebrities and comic readers alike praised the works. All three books won various awards. Including the Coretta Scott King Book Awards (Books One and Three), the Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work (Books Two and Three), and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults (Book Three). Book One also became the first graphic novel to win the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award in 2014. WOW!!! And let’s not forget the National Book Award in 2016 (Book Three) which was also the first comic to do so. This made the Trilogy’s Illustrator Nate Powell the first cartoonist to receive this prestigious honor. NICE!! And speaking of art… though all three books are in black and white, Nate’s powerful images and contrasts bring each page alive. Often using pitch black as a backdrop, the foreground is brimming with action that’s emphasized with white word bubbles and pictures. Grayscale and shadowing round out the ensemble bringing depth to larger shots like gatherings, Sit-Ins, protests, conflict, and violence and of course… the March! Quite honestly, because the covers are in color, it’s hard to believe the imagery inside isn’t the same. And in some ways, at least for me, the lessons within seem to hit that much harder in black and white. Symbolic of the struggle, the ink represents the human color divide while also delivering the messages within – in plain black and white. I wondered throughout if this dawned on the trio during creation. *Raised eyebrow*

Further, using the March Trilogy Slipcase Edition for my review, I noted the outer shell is well crafted and the books themselves are beautifully made. Sturdy and thick. Each cover has folded in pieces with the same excerpt about Congressman Lewis inside the front flap and a summary of each book on their respective back flaps. The words: “To the past and future children of the movement,” are inscribed on the first page of all three which I LOVE!! And each holds the same touching Acknowledgments and About the Author sections along with a Praise portion that boasts awards, best seller lists and quotes of recognition. My favorite comes from Mr. Reading Rainbow himself, LeVar Burton, who says: “With March, Congressman John Lewis takes us behind the scenes of some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement. In graphic novel form, his first-hand account makes these historic events both accessible and relevant to an entire new generation of Americans.” Burton speaks immeasurable truth here! Why? Because from beginning to end, this Trilogy isn’t just a story. It’s history wrapped in truth and covered with art. It’s also told in a way that could be spread across an entire set of educational lectures surrounding the Civil Rights Movement. And it’s a way to dig deeper. Especially into the black experience. As we all know, US History usually glosses over this subject with some highlights and landmarks, but never really shows the true struggle. Particularly in the south. Even better, each book, though a continuing story throughout, is broken up into three major milestones within The Movement: Sit-Ins, Freedom Rides, and Voting Rights. All of which, told from Mr. Lewis’ perspective, do an excellent job of NOT hitting the highlights. He’s honest, not critical. Blatant, not rude. And finally, reflective without bias. A true patriot through and through!!

Different from my comic reviews during 2022’s Black History Month of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story, the March Trilogy is likely best suited for young adults and above, rather than all grades. Especially if it were to be assigned reading. Additionally, many excerpts and pieces could be used to tie in discussions on Civil Rights, government and, of course, overall humanity. For all three books do not shy away from showing what true evil in the form of racism looks like. An experience EVERYONE should share, no? And with that said, let the lesson begin.

Book One

The shortest of the three, Book One opens with a preamble showing us a quick glimpse of the March itself – American Bloody Sunday (March 7th, 1965) – before jumping into the overall story. I don’t know about you, but virtually any recount of this day always strikes a sharp balance of fear AND hope in me. Seeing this right off puts you smack in the middle just for a moment. A few short pages later, you’re transported to January 20th, 2009 - Inauguration Day. At first, I was confused. Then I realized that this wasn’t like all the other Inauguration Days. This day would see the first African American sworn into office. A proud moment for people of color everywhere. *BIG GRIN* One that most certainly would not be possible without the events of Bloody Sunday. I mean, full circle in literally the first few pages is just… WOW!! Acting as an anchor of change and a breakaway from one section of story to another, pieces of the 2009 Inauguration Day are strung across all three books. Imaginative and apt, I love this!!!

Diving back in… Mr. Lewis notes a missed call and voice mail on his cell. Moving on he wrestles with the cold D.C. morning and heads to Capitol Hill. There in his office, just before going to the Inauguration festivities, he’s interrupted by a woman and her two boys. Not expecting to actually see the Congressman himself, the mother wants her boys to see his office – a living piece of black history. American history! Of course, to their surprise, Mr. Lewis welcomes them in. I was instantly warmed by his unhurried demeanor. His loving embrace of the young black men. The pictures in his office. All of it. It felt like a blanket of love and a hot cup of cocoa… lol!

And just like that, blending past with present the tale begins with John as a boy in Alabama. From preaching to chickens (LOVE THIS!!) and hiding from chores so he could go to school instead, John was by far not the average black farm boy. His calling came young and he never looked back. And once he heard the words of Reverend Martin Luther king Jr. on the radio, his life changed forever. From there, a series of events – the Brown V. Board of Education (pg. 53-54) decision, the murder of Emmett Till (pg. 57) and the protest from Rosa Parks (pg. 58) – set John on a path for justice. One that grew from giving his first sermon (aside from the chickens of course… LOL!) just before he turned 16 years old into helping found and grow the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC; 1960-1971). It’s awe inspiring to say the least.

But what Book One does best is walk the reader through the history of Sit-Ins. It’s here that we see small town racism escalate to the field of big politics. Yet, it’s the counter-side images and commentary that’s most impactful. I repeatedly had to step outside the story to remind myself that this was real life. That segregation, just like its brother, racism, run deep!! Even today… right now… it’s horrific to think EVERYTHING I hold dear could be destroyed by any given white person simply because of the color of my skin. Back then, Sit-Ins were the tip of the iceberg and Mr. Lewis makes it clear why they were just the beginning of the fight for equality. A part of history seldom discussed in the average history class… or anywhere else for that matter. Heck, besides this book, the only other graphic depiction I’ve seen of Sit-Ins comes from Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy (Netflix; 2019 to present). Finally… in the 21st century, these stories are being told away from a white-washed narrative and I LOVE IT!! Bravo to both mediums!

As one would imagine, segregated lunch counters across the south resisted. So did political figures and Washington… for a time. But in the end, no one could stop the winds of change and like the Bus Boycott, Sit-Ins prevailed. Using non-violence and the lessons of The Montgomery Method – also taught via comics… YES!! – segregation began to slowly disappear. From there, Mr. Lewis and his brethren marched on and right into the next movement – The Freedom Riders.

Book Two

Book Two opens with a small piece of the Inauguration celebration before leaping right into the fight for justice. Turning his sights from lunch counters to restaurants and movie theaters John lands in jail… again! In fact, he spent his 21st birthday behind bars. *WOW*

By 1961, following the Boynton V. Virginia ruling (1960) – “which outlawed segregation and racial discrimination on buses and in bus terminals (1)” – Freedom Rides began to take hold. Wanting to initiate something similar himself under SNCC, but denied due to the danger, John notes that when he saw the ad from the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) for volunteers to join “Freedom Ride 1961 (2),” He felt: “It was the spirit of history at work again. (3; pg. 30)” Indeed Mr. Lewis… INDEED!!

From there the reader is immersed in the scary history of escalating racial tensions, missing activists and senseless acts of violence. Racist to the core governors, mayors, police and countless public officials stand in their way. Riders are beaten, including Mr. Lewis, and some were even murdered with no consequences to the perpetrators. One – Dr. Bergman – was beaten so badly: “He sustained permanent brain damage and a stroke that would paralyze him for the rest of his life (pg. 52). *SIGH* Unfortunately, even before the Freedom Rides, this was the norm in the south. And like Book One, the black and white images are jarring and frightening. Simply put, aside from the depicted violence, seeing a shadow of hoods is even scarier. Knowing people go missing for simply standing up for their Constitutional Rights is worse. And finally, understanding that ALL OF THIS is based solely on a different skin color is wholeheartedly and breathtakingly sad. But the violence doesn’t stop there.

There’s even more to be had when the story moves into the fight for the right to vote. A part of history that is by far not discussed enough. Though these comics came out well before, in the wake of the "Big Lie” surrounding the 2020 Election, it’s shocking to read what my fellow black brothers and sisters had to go through to simply cast their vote at all. Sure, I’ve heard the stories and have even studied it a bit while pursuing my Minor in History many years ago. But all of that pale in comparison to Lewis’ story and Powell’s images. Maybe it’s because I love comics and seeing something so real in comic form hurts more. Maybe the real life still shots of voters in line or holding picket signs aren’t jarring enough. Or maybe… and my money is on this one folks… WE as a Nation, without an extensive overhaul of US History… have NO IDEA how important that time was to the Democratic process. Our eyes are closed to the plight, the right and the fight for the black vote. Hence why it lives in peril to this day as massive voting rights legislation – including the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 – is ignored in favor of restricting ballot boxes and poll centers in communities of color throughout the country. *SMH* Anyone who says racism ended with Barack Obama are not only lying to you, but to themselves. Often times, on purpose! Yep, I said it!!

Thankfully, our authors take care to use the anchor and continually mix in uplifting images from the 2009 Inauguration. Another of many full circle moments, the post card from Obama to Lewis inscribed: “Because of you John (Book Three; pg. 189),” is particularly touching!! And each victory, no matter how small, is joyous. In contrast, the defeats are jarring. Particularly when children are involved. Overall, emotions run heavy throughout. As for John? By the end of Book Two, he’s become the SNCC Chairman, is now included as part of the Civil Rights icons known as the “Big Six,” and spoke at the 1963 March on Washington. And he’s only 23!! HOLY COW!! From the beatings and arrests to accomplishments and triumphs, it’s hard to believe how much this one man endured. Even with all that hope, Book Two closes with just a couple pages surrounding one of the darkest times of Civil Rights history - the 16th Avenue Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. *SIGH* And still… we MARCH!!

Book Three

The thickest of the Trilogy, Book Three wastes no time letting us know the stakes with a grim preamble showing more details on the church bombing. A lady opens the bathroom door to find four young girls inside. As she hurries them along from Sunday School to the main Service (pg. 5), my heart sank. Taking me sharply back to that horrific feeling of harm simply for the color of my skin, the next few pages, as well as so many other sections throughout, reveal how right I was. How sad. How… ANGRY!!

Following the horrific church bombing, the protests that escalated were equally matched with opposition and violence. Still, we marched! The Movement grew as more and more African Americans decided to exercise their constitutional right and register to vote. Intimidation, discrimination and outright cruelty pushed back. Folks stood in line for hours without food or water and anyone attempting to service them would face arrest for interference. And the majority who actually made it in to register were often denied due to ridiculous rules and racist public servants. Yeah, I said PUBLIC servants!! *SIGH* It was said the conditions matched that of “South Africa under Apartheid,” which in turn sprouted similar efforts to educate in the form of the SNCC organized, Freedom Vote (pg. 44). *HECK YEAH!* The mock elections – held the same time as Mississippi state-wide elections – allowed black voters a chance to see how and where their vote, or lack thereof, mattered. Ingenious, I say!! Something we need more of TODAY!!

Digging deeper. By the time John F. Kennedy was assassinated (November 22, 1963) racial tensions were at an all-time high. In the summer of 1964, the mock Freedom Vote morphed into the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) which went beyond education by: “going after real voters (pg. 65).” Yet, After three volunteers – Mickey Schwerner, Andy Goodman and James Chaney – went missing, things seemed hopeless. However unfortunate, “The incident provided the final impetus needed” for Kennedy’s successor Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) to sign the Civil Rights Act into law (July 2, 1964). However, not unlike other volatile times in history, political party ideology was in major flux as Democratic defectors (Dixiecrats) moved to the Republican Party where the platform has remained to this day. As if politics didn’t play a major role before, they most certainly were front and center now!!

Ripple effects at the 1964 GOP National Convention, saw the Republican Party reject Nelson Rockefeller and back Barry Goldwater for President. The Democratic National Convention was equally disruptive with the MFDP pushing for black representation in Mississippi’s all white Democratic Party Delegation. It’s still shocking to me that even after the nationally televised testimony of so many, including MFPD Vice Chair, Fannie Lou Hamer, the MFDP lost the vote. A sad turning point in the fight for sure!! As Mr. Lewis put it: “Lingering feelings of cynicism, mistrust of government, and deep resentment of ‘white liberals’ would cast shadows over southern politics for decades to come (pg. 126).” *FACTS!!* For John, a reset was definitely in order and after an eye opening educational trip to Africa, John came home to an SNCC in disarray. The adopted African anti-colonial mantra of One man, One vote (pg. 33) was collapsing under its own weight. Working to keep things together, the pressing issues surrounding the right to vote continued. With so many nuances, it’s hard to tell where one mission ends and another one begins. Still… we MARCH!

Around the time Malcolm X was assassinated a protestor and Vietnam veteran named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot after fleeing attack by officers at a night vigil. He passed away from his sustained injuries shortly after Malcolm X. *SIGH* During Jackson’s funeral, it was said that his casket should be taken from Selma to Montgomery and laid at the Capitol steps (pg. 182). Thus, the idea for the March was born. *WOW!!* The weight behind this one idea is just…

As the final 60+ pages (YES, 60!!) unfold, I was filled with so many mixed emotions. Transported back to the beginning of Book One, the March and subsequent brutality on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, is shown. The calm nature of the March is disrupted by racial slurs and outright violence. Mr. Lewis along with others are beaten. Only this time, the events are shown LIVE to MILLIONS on television causing a swell of support. YES!! Rallies and protests erupt across the nation. LBJ gives what Mr. Lewis calls: “One of the most moving speeches I have ever heard an American President give on Civil Rights (pg. 224).” *WHOA* Then Federal Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. – a proven ally in the Movement – lifts the injunction against the March. Alabama Governor George Wallace loses the fight!! *FINALLY*

By the time the third and final Selma to Montgomery March begins – just two weeks after Bloody Sunday – the tide has turned. Upwards of 25,000 people participated in the 54 mile trek, including John, who was still recovering from a skull fracture he received on Bloody Sunday. He traveled to and from hospital care in Selma for monitoring during each stop on the March (pg. 232). *HOLY COW* At the end, a huge celebration with a concert organized by Harry Belafonte ensued – “A salute to Selma (pg. 233).” *NICE!!* And by early August, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. Yet, even with all that, sadly, violence, opposition and murder continue to this day. Heck, Governor Wallace – famous for his 1963 “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” inauguration speech – remained in office into the 80s folks!! Thankfully his presidential aspirations never came to fruition. *WHEW* But change is possible folks!! Much later in life, following a failed assassination attempt which left him paralyzed, Wallace changed his stance and sought to reconcile with black voters and Civil Rights leaders, including Lewis! Of course, Mr. Lewis forgave him. Regardless, the racial struggle in this nation and around the globe are ever present and still… WE MUST MARCH!!

The comic ends with John settling back in at home after Inauguration Day. The list of missed messages has ballooned to twenty-eight in total! The reader is privy to the first one mentioned at the beginning of our voyage. Ted Kennedy! He reminisces about all he’s been thinking about leading up to this day. “The years of work and bloodshed… the people who didn’t live to see this day (pg. 245).” Jack, Bobby, Martin. *WOW* My heart sank… again! I take a deep breath and turn the page. It’s the next day AND the last page of our journey. John surprises Andrew Aydin by telling him he's ready to make the comics. *BIG GRIN* And just like that, my hope returns. Thank you, John! *WINK* The End.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really can’t say enough about these comics. They showed me things I truly was not aware of about The Movement. Things that a white-washed history doesn’t talk about. Heck, right now… to this day… a well-respected source for digital history knowledge, History.com, always makes the top of searches, and one I’ve linked in this article, hits JUST the highlights on their page: Civil Rights Movement Timeline. Of course Bloody Sunday is included, as well as Sit-Ins and Freedom Rides. But where’s information on the missing Freedom volunteers? Voting intimidation? Fannie Lou Hamer’s testimony and so, so, so much more? True, there are links to more information at the bottom of the page as well as many other sources to be found. And when you search the individual incidents, History.com also has many separate pages. However, you literally have to be looking for the information. It’s just simply NOT included in the timeline. Several others are no different with some not even mentioning the SNCC at all. *WTF* Martin Luther King Jr. (SCLC President) is the face of The Movement overall which in many ways, given his elevated public notoriety, is understandable. However, when teaching history, John Lewis and countless others, sadly go overlooked, even now! Not to mention the ties to black oppression in Africa, the links – and often times, lack thereof – between the different Movement organizations (SNCC, SCLC, NAACP, CORE, etc.) in the states AND the multiple political diversions along the way. Including from LBJ himself!! *SIGH*

On a much lighter note. The forces behind Congressman Lewis’ comics – Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell – are so proud to be there. In discussions, videos and print. It shows! The work is spectacular and the awards well deserved. As evidenced in this lovely interview via Comic Book Review TV (CBR-TV) at San Diego Comic Con in 2013, putting these comics together was a wonderful marriage of fanboy love and professional respect. And, as far as education goes, there’s so much in these books that one could pour over them repeatedly and still find something new. Heck, I’ve barely scratched the surface in this article!! The history is raw and despite being in black and white, quite colorful. But what really got me was seeing Mr. Lewis – during promotion for the books at San Diego Comic Con in 2015 – cosplay as himself from Bloody Sunday. Recreating the moment with a symbolic AND peaceful march (just like in 1965), Congressman Lewis led a group around the Con with the numbers swelling throughout. The images and videos of the event are absolutely touching and quite literally make me teary eyed every time I look at them!!

When Mr. Lewis passed, an overwhelming support of love and grief filled all forms of media. A personal favorite is this video clip where Stephen Colbert celebrates John’s life. The video itself is full of love and respect but a quick summation of the man John Is, comes when he explains (3:21 mark) how he forgave one of the Klansman who beat him in 1961 during a Freedom Ride after the man came to his Congressional Office in Washington with his son and apologized. They hugged and cried together. I mean… if you take NOTHING from this whole article, along with his forgiveness towards Governor Wallace, take THAT!!

Congressman Lewis, the humble caring soul he was, sheds no spotlight on himself in these books. Instead, he gives praise to all sorts of people who took part in The Movement. He also doesn’t shy away from mentioning organization infighting and clashes between faces of The Movement as well as his personal feelings on various issues, fellow fighters and political figures. All with grace and awe inspiring dignity. He’s also on record, including in the comics Acknowledgements section, praising Co-Author Andrew Aydin and Illustrator Nate Powell. Because just like all his other work, Mr. Lewis knew that no one does it alone. And with that, I’ll say “Good trouble… necessary trouble,” always NEEDS allies!! Rest in Power Mr. Lewis, for your March is done.

Until next time… remember, History matters to us all!!

Nate Powell, Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Sandi Villarreall.)

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