Born in small-town Alabama in 1940, civil rights icon John Lewis was a pivotal figure in America’s struggle for racial equality, dedicating his life to challenging systemic discrimination and advocating nonviolent activism.
Lewis rose to prominence during the ’60s as an organizer in the Civil Rights Movement, playing a central role in historic events like the Nashville sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered a stirring speech alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also led the infamous 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, advocating for voting rights despite violent opposition.
His unwavering commitment to political change culminated in his 1986 election to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia’s 5th congressional district. During Lewis’ time in Congress, he remained a staunch advocate for civil rights, social justice, and healthcare reform. Since his 2020 passing, he’s left a legacy of moral integrity, resilience and activism, his life story a testament to the power of steadfast determination in the face of adversity.
In a 2015 interview with Goodreads, Lewis spoke on the five most impactful books of his life. He cites the comic Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story as not only a key influence on his understanding of nonviolence, but the inspiration behind telling his experience of the Civil Rights Movement in graphic novel form. Co-written by Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, Lewis’ March trilogy spent six straight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, receiving the Coretta Scott King Award and National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
Explore John Lewis’ book recommendations below, and complement with the reading lists of Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou and MLK.
John Lewis’ Reading List
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr.
“I remember the first time I heard the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on an old radio. It felt like he was speaking directly to me, saying, ‘You, too, can do something.’ I soon wrote a letter to Dr. King asking for his help in desegregating a nearby college. Eventually he became my big brother, my mentor, and my hero.” -JL
Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story published by Fellowship of Reconciliation
“I remember reading Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story when I was a student in Nashville, participating in nonviolence workshops led by Reverend Jim Lawson of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He taught us so much about nonviolence, how it was used all over the world to fight segregation. And during the workshops, he would pass out this little comic book. The words and the pictures made the Montgomery Bus Boycott come alive for me and for so many young people.” -JL
The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas by Mahatma Gandhi
“I first read about Gandhi when I was a student at American Baptist College. We studied what Gandhi attempted to do in South Africa and what he accomplished in India. The teachings of Gandhi, the philosophy of passive resistance and nonviolence—also taught by Martin Luther King Jr.—inspired hundreds and thousands and millions of citizens in America and helped free and liberate not just a people but a nation.” -JL
Civil Disobedience and Other Essays by Henry David Thoreau (also rec’d by MLK)
“In those workshops with Reverend Lawson, we also studied Thoreau and ‘Civil Disobedience.’ This essay is an essential work for understanding nonviolence as a personal philosophy.” -JL
Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World by Louis Fischer
“I remember reading this particular edition by Louis Fischer and discussing it in class and among my friends. The words were liberating. Even today, when I’m faced with a tough decision in Congress, I think, What would Gandhi do?” -JL
(via Goodreads; photo by Pouya Dianat)
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