March: Book Two by John Lewis, Anrew Aydin, Nate Powell

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March: Book Two
by John Lewis, Anrew Aydin, Nate Powell


I went to bed reading the first half of this book (and crying). Then I woke up, fed my cats, and spent the morning finishing the book (and crying some more). In a lot of ways, this graphic novel version of John Lewis' story makes it easier to read than a normal memoir. In other ways, however, seeing some of the brutality, discrimination, and violence through pictures not just words makes it more difficult to read. I had a hard time looking at the illustrations of some of the beatings and murders, some of which I already knew about and others I certainly didn't.

It's hard for me to put into words what I thought about this book, because all the thoughts I had while reading were mixed up in my mind with how I felt about what was taking place in the book as well as what's happening right now in the country. Yesterday was the women's march in Washington following the inauguration of Donald Trump, which took place a week after Donald Trump insulted John Lewis on Twitter. Past and present are not two separate things for me right now. It's all mixed together in my head along with the desire for all people to be free and equal and prosperous in America.

This volume shows John Lewis' history with nonviolence protests in the years leading up to and including the March on Washington. It also points out a lot of key figures and shows the cultural climate in a number of different regions of the country, including the deep south. There were a lot of moments when I was anxious and appalled. But when his group of freedom riders were dropped off by the police in Klan country, I was terrified for their safety. I really liked that the focus was all over the place and included people like Malcolm X, even though he wasn't in the nonviolent resistance movement, because it was all part of what was going on and different approaches groups were taking. But I especially liked how true to his convictions John was throughout. Any one of the instances mentioned in the book would be enough to give someone reason to doubt or retreat. But freedom comes at a price and comes from a show of strength. And it turns out that his actions helped not only mold the movement but also bring about real change. He inspired people to believe in themselves. He inspired people to fight not just for what the government wants to get you but what you deserve. Seeing his conviction in wanting every person of age be able to vote in our country was moving. And seeing Robert Kennedy come to understand and change because of what he was seeing was beautiful. I feel like I want to memorize the SNCC document shown in the book; some excellent quotes in there.

And, of course, the March on Washington was beautifully done. I really enjoyed getting to learn a little about Bayard Rustin and see him in action here, even though he was a controversial choice to organize the march at the time. And one certainly can't miss the parallel the author and artist made between that crowd in Washington and the one assembled for President Obama's inauguration. I was particularly moved to see the kindness and respect of John Lewis' fellow Senators as they took their places to assemble for the inauguration and the way Obama greeted him. I remember watching that moment on television and being moved then, but seeing it from John Lewis' perspective here was even more powerful.

I also loved that John Lewis' original speech from the march on Washington was included at the end of the book; I read it through twice.


Pop Sugar Reading Challenge: A book set in two different time periods