John,
By now you have heard the news that Georgia Congressman, and titan of the civil rights movement, John Robert Lewis has died. There aren’t words that can adequately describe what his justice driven life meant to me, his constituents and the rest of America. He truly was a giant, and an American hero, whose influence will echo far into the 21st century.
I only knew Congressman Lewis from afar –– at Democratic Party of Georgia events we always said hello and shook hands, and then he would take the stage to tell one of his famous stories about growing up in poverty in Troy, Alabama, and the great big thunderstorm that nearly lifted his Aunt Seneva’s house off the ground.
He described how he and all the little children would scurry from one side of the house to keep the floor from lifting off into the wind, a delicate allegory about our world and the people in this “house” we all live on.
“We all must be part of that effort to hold down our little house. If you see something that’s not right, not fair, not just, do something about it. Say something. Do something. Have the courage. Have the backbone to get in the way. Walk with the wind. It’s all gonna work out.”
His booming voice and the truth he delivered resonated with the hearts and minds of each and every person in the room, and the silence that followed gave us time to reflect on what he required from us. Do something, have courage, and stand up for what we believe in.
His life and his deeds are what have inspired millions of Americans and people around the world, including me and probably you. Take today and reflect on what John Lewis stood for, fought for, and got in the way of, for dignity and peace and justice for all.
I look forward to watching the new film, John Lewis: Good Trouble, but I’ll also be revisiting my favorite documentary from 2017: Get in the Way (watch it on PBS for free now: https://www.pbs.org/video/john-lewis-get-way). The idea of “getting in the way” always resonated with me as a young Democrat, and still does today.
It’s a reminder that we can make a difference in the world, and to not be afraid to “make some noise, and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
I wish much love and prayers to Congressman Lewis’ loved ones, staff and extended Democratic Party family. A nation and a world are with them in our hearts and minds today. And tomorrow I know that we all endeavor to walk in the footsteps of this American hero. This is our house, we live here together, and together we can reach that promised land, and create the beloved community that John Robert Lewis marched towards every single day.
