In this post, I want to remember John Lewis. John Lewis was put to rest two days ago in Atlanta, Georgia. The celebration of John Lewis took place at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. It is just a short walk to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
At the ceremony at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, John Lewis was honored by many, including three former presidents and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Also, other voices of inspiration and love included James M. Lawson, activist/nonviolent teacher, Xernona Clayton, founder, Trumpet Foundation, William Craig Campbell, Former mayor of Atlanta, Jamila Thompson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Lewis, Tybre Faw, a 12-year old friend of John Lewis, and Sheila Lewis O’Brien, one of John’s nieces. At the end of the service, President Obama gave the Eulogy
I remember that James Lawson said that John Lewis led and identified the movement from the 50s to the 70s as the Nonviolent Movement of America, not the Civil Rights Movement. John Lewis, said Lawson, was about fighting “forces of wickedness,” including racism, sexism, violence and plantation capitalism.
Like many people in the country, I’ve devoted much time to thinking, reading and watching the celebration of John Lewis’ life.
As a result, my contribution to his legacy and the love that he showed so many of us was to paint the scene in the White House on February 16, 2011. On this day President Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to John Lewis. This painting follows one I did last week of John Lewis standing in front of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
Each painting was inspired by how John Lewis and Barack Obama affected me, as well the world we live in. They each are courageous and important men in the history of this country. I’ve tried to capture the beautiful lines and shapes of the faces of these two men, who contributed so much to all of us. It was a joy to paint these men. Five years ago I did my first painting of President Obama, which is shown later in this post.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
On February 11, 2011, the civil rights activist and Representative from the the 5th District in Congress from Georgia was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama presented him with the award that was established by President John F. Kennedy. The award is given for “An especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” John Lewis exceeded the merits of the award, but it was a well deserved honor for a man that changed the hearts and minds of millions of people. He never veered from a path toward the truth, and rights for all people.
Barach Obama’s Eulogy for John Lewis
Many speakers made remarks at John Lewis’ funeral at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. In particular, President Obama gave the Eulogy for John Lewis. Follow this link for his full transcript of his Eulogy for John Lewis, and watch the video below of his speech.
John Lewis’ Final Essay
On this day, the New York Times published John Lewis’ essay that was written just days before he died. Specifically, Lewis requested that it be published on the day of his funeral. He title the essay Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation. He said that “though I am gone, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.”
His essay reaches out to the younger generation. Although, after readying it, it is a message to us all. In particular, he ended his essay with this idea:
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. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.
Lewis, J. (2020, July 30). John Lewis: Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation. Retrieved July 30, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html
Afterword
John Lewis was a remarkable man. But reading President Obama’s Eulogy, you find out how miraculous he was not only as a Congressman, but early in his life. I am the same age as John Lewis. I was a high school teacher in Massachusetts when he was asked to lead a march from Selma to Montgomery. I was teaching about rocks and minerals in Lexington, MA to 30 students at a time. John Lewis was speaking to a quarter of a million people on the steps of the Nation’s Capital.
I was coaching basketball to 9th graders in 1965. John was in the White House to watch President Johnson sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He received one of the pen’s used to sign the Voting Rights Act. Years later, I was teaching at Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, Georgia. During my time at GSU, John was elected to the United States Congress representing Georgia’s 5th congressional district that includes GSU, Fulton County, and parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties.
About 5 years ago I met Congressman Lewis at the Atlanta Airport. I was traveling somewhere, but John Lewis was heading to Washington. He Was walking by himself. I introduced myself. It was an exceptional moment in time. He was gentle, kind, and compassionate. It was as if he cared about me, when in fact he didn’t know me. I’ll never forget that moment I will always remember John Lewis.
Finally, I’d like to end this blog post with some words that James Lawson spoke at John Lewis’ funeral. He said:
Drink the truth of the life force. If we would honor and celebrate John Lewis’ life, let us then re-commit our souls, our hearts, our minds, our bodies and our strength to the continuing journey to dismantle the wrong in our midst and to allow the space for the new earth and new heaven to emerge
Brian O’Shea, E. (2020, July 31). John Lewis’ funeral: Remarks by Rev. James Lawson. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://www.ajc.com/john-lewis/john-lewiss-funeral-remarks-by-rev-james-lawson/4HUU5KYIEBB4VBLQZPW54YIGIY/
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