And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.”, “Every generation leaves behind a legacy. So. As we confront questions of social inequality there's no … Across that Bridge is beautiful and inspiring book. However, Lewis' involvement in the fight for social justice did not end after the 50s and 60s. Although “Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change” by Congressman John Lewis has been in print for a while, I was led to read it by a rather interesting set of circumstances. I had a good, albeit short (4 loops) run in the morning. While I often have a hard time living up to his ideals, I am inspired by his deeply held belief in the unity and equality of all people. These are perhaps the most powerful, for Lewis's generosity of spirit and commit, I just re-read this book for a class I'm teaching this semester on the history, philosophy, and practice of nonviolence. (CBS) – Civil rights icon John Lewis’ body is being carried across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday. He has been a member of Congress since 1986. tags: falsehoods, lies, truth. In Across That Bridge, Congressman 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. Why must we, as members of the human family, immerse ourselves in the agency of turmoil and unrest to affect the evolution of humankind? July 26 (UPI) --The body of civil rights icon and U.S. House Rep. John Lewis crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday.A horse-drawn caisson carried the casket across the bridge … I believe the true destiny of humankind is to recollect that it is light and to learn how to abide in infinite awareness of the divine in all matters of human affairs…, “Love is the willingness to sacrifice, to be beaten, to go to jail, to be killed for the betterment of society rather than live out your life in silence. For the past year, Carole Martin and I have been co-facilitating a “network leadership program” supported by the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund called the Community Practitioners Network (CPN). 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. I love how devoted he was and is to nonviolent social change, how he continues to live the dream that many gave up on in the late 1960s, and his support of current civil rights issues of gay rights and educational equality. There is no discounting the life experience of John Lewis. I have the feeling you had a particular bridge in mind when you titled that book. 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. Rooted in the teachings of Ghandi, Kennedy, King, Mandela and other champions of non-violent activism, this book reads like a beautiful melody. I absolutely loved this book for what is has to say about bringing truth and peace to America, and the world. The subtitle says it all: This book was one of the most profound, intelligent, thought provoking works I have ever read. This book was one of the most profound, intelligent, thought provoking works I have ever read. His new book is titled "Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change." [John Lewis; Brenda D Jones] -- "In turbulent times Americans look to the Civil Rights Movement as the apotheosis of political expression. ", A book from 2012 that is so appropriate at this time in our country. I struggle with the current political situation, increasing prejudice and decreased concern for the retired, middle class and those who need help with addiction, housing, adequate nutrition and medical care. All of these aspects were put into action in the Civil Rights movement in which Mr. Lewis played such an important role. DOWNLOAD OPTIONS download 1 file . Finally, Lewis is too liberal for my political views. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) talked about his book, [Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change], in which he presents lessons he learned as a leader of the civil rights movement.… 1 Favorite . This short book is Lewis' guide for the young activists in the world today. Across That Bridge is worth reading for most Americans because it shines a light on an extremely important era in American history. The book was meant to be inspiring, and it very much is inspiring. A self-help book for activists, specifically focusing on the values necessary to make change. There is defin. I also took a 90-minute nap in the afternoon. Refresh and try again. The sections are titled: faith, patience, study, act, peace, love and reconciliation. 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. The tenets in this book can help us achieve our dreams. 0 likes. John Lewis has the perspective of years of involvement and a heart of love and justice. (Thanks Laura!) You are a child of God. The most inspiring book I read in 2013 was Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and A Vision for Change, by Congressman and Civil Rights legend, John Lewis. 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. We will feel less. I ran ten loops this morning, so getting back in the groove after a week of not feeling great. 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.”. See 2 questions about Across That Bridge…, Good Minds Suggest—Books that Influenced Congressman John Lewis. A beautiful book, and a very teachable book. His vision for the future is powerful and magnetic. He was probably the third civil rights era activist I learned about after Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, I think he was talked about in a documentary my class watched on the lunch counter desegregations in the second The part of the book I liked best was Lewis's thorough explanation of the philosophy of the non-violent movement. After reading his graphic novels, wanted to know more about his philosophy and this book didn't disappoint. The most inspiring book I read in 2013 was Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and A Vision for Change, by Congressman and Civil Rights legend, John Lewis. Start by marking “Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America” as Want to Read: Error rating book. In this jewel of a book, Rep. Lewis presents several categories which he suggests should be mastered in order to bring about meaningful change - to light the fire of a movement. The body of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis on Sunday made the final journey across the famous bridge in Selma, Alabama, where he helped lead a march for voting rights in 1965.At age 25, Lewis … What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about truth, goodness and working for justice. May 15th 2012 Another thing I didn't like was the middle of the book in which Lewis gave principles of the movement that should be followed today. The late US Rep. John Robert Lewis made his final journey on Sunday across the famous bridge in Selma, Alabama, where the towering civil rights … Every page is filled with lines that are quotable. It's a smaller book, broken up into sections on foundational lessons from Lewis's life, like "Faith," "Patience," "Peace," and "Love." 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. So radical was Highlander's thought, it was placed under FBI surveillance. It challenged me to think of how I view the political & moral climate & how I choose to react. The insight portrayed, and depiction that, "education is the most important tool to institute this change" was amplified during Lewis's marches with Rev. How will all of you honor his legacy? He shares about his life and his experiences during the Civil Rights movement. He and the other activists planned on marching to the state capitol as a protest against voter discrimination. © 2021 Copyright Interaction Institute for Social Change. I have. I hope that these words of Congressman Lewis, plus the introductory quotes for each chapter will whet your appetite for the whole book. As I hope to pursue a career in politics and/or the legal system, I can see myself coming back to this book many times throughout my life. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light. (My students this term have loved it, and it has opened up some very rich conversations. 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. In beautiful prose that sounds like you are hearing him speak, John Lewis discusses the importance of faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love, and reconciliation. 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. 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? Rep. Lewis was beaten by police on the bridge on "Bloody Sunday" on … 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 part of the book I liked best was Lewis's thorough explanation of the philosophy of the non-violent movement. As I loved his autobiography Walking with the Wind, I was thrilled when my wonderful sister told me about this book and gave me a copy. ENCRYPTED DAISY download. I. A short book with the wisdom of a prophet and the compassion of one who has sacrificed all for the cause of peace and justice. 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. He also argues strongly against war as counterproductive in a way that seemed naive and simplistic. Nothing to ask. He built the book around several practices that are essential for social justice work: faith, patience, study, truth, peace, love and reconciliation. Reading this on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington was fitting. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. […] Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. 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. What legacy do you want to leave behind?”, http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/across-that-bridge/. So many gave so much that seems to have been forgotten. ), I have always admired John Lewis. Get this from a library! Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change John Lewis. Each chapter/essay dealt with a theme of peaceful resistance via a particular concept: love, peace, unity, etc. So much wisdom, but a couple of my favorite quotes: In this jewel of a book, Rep. Lewis presents several categories which he suggests should be mastered in order to bring about meaningful change - to light the fire of a movement. Also, Congressman Lewis writes about his experience of being beaten, and his incarceration. Your email address will not be published. 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. This is the finding of ecologists and other scientists looking at how peripheral spaces can provide adaptive strength. 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. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was one of t. 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. An inspiring read for anyone seeking to bring justice, peace and love to the world. Recommended... Jon Lewis is a treasure, this book is a primer for life. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published A little slow in parts, but I consider this a must read. It chronicles Lewis’ activities in the civil rights movement but as much is a poetic proponent for non-violent change activity. For many people, that review would be helpful, but since I teach US history, a lot of that information was not new to me. From Page 164, "Perhaps the variations in appearance and expression that seem to occupy so much of our concern--tall, short, black, brown, straight hair or curly, white or yellow, fat or slender, gay or straight--are more an expression of the broad imagination of the Creator than they are an indication of our value or worth. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? Lewis' flag-draped casket was pulled across the bridge by a pair of horses, as a crowd of onlookers gathered at the side of the road. The most important lesson Congressman Lewis provides is the necessity of inner transformation. Across That Bridge is worth reading for most Americans because it shines a light on an extremely important era in American history. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.” — Mother Theresa, Study: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Introduction: “Some men see things as they are and say ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were and say ‘Why not?’” —Robert F. Kennedy, Faith: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11: 1, Patience: “Without patience, we will learn less in life. After reading this, Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis is one of my new heroes. Truly an incredible experience reading this book. In beautiful prose that sounds like yo, Courageous, hopeful and inspiring civil rights leader John Lewis is one of my heroes. Each one reflects on these major lessons, providing both an inspiring introduction to a particular aspect of nonviolence and short anecdotes from Lewis's own life. The Civil Rights Movement is a part of our history, and John Lewis played a big part of helping us get to where we are today. Yet, even fifty years later, it is rare to find anyone who would use the word love to describe what we did. For instance he argues that people are born good, and that racism occurs because people have been poorly taught. The book outlines a process for peaceful protest. I love how devoted he was and is to nonviolent social change, how he continues to live the dream that many gave up on in the late 1960s, and his support of current civil rights issues of gay rights and educational equality. 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. In 1965, John Lewis was beaten when a voting rights march across a bridge in Selma, Alabama, turned violent. 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. 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. 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 believe that we are all a spark of the divine, and if that spark is nurtured it can become a burning flame, an eternal force of light. 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.". The body of John Lewis crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge one last time on Sunday in what organizers described as "The Final Crossing," part of a multiday celebration of the life of the civil rights icon. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Across the Bridge” by Mavis de Trafford Young. The aspects include faith, patience, study, truth, love, and reconciliation. 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