The March on Washington was a March for Jobs and Freedom. There are still too many people who are unemployed or underemployed in America - they're black, white, Latino, Native American and Asian American.
John LewisRead
1963, because of the sense of moral authority that the civil rights movement had, we were able to get people to respond, because of the quality of our demand and our sense of moral authority.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Moral authority during the civil rights movement inspired people to respond positively to demands for change.
John Lewis highlights the importance of moral authority in the civil rights movement, suggesting that it was this ethical foundation that motivated people to engage with and support their cause. The quality of their demands, backed by a profound sense of rightness, enabled them to resonate with a broader audience, illustrating how integrity can empower social change.
Themes
Civil RightsMoral AuthoritySocial ChangeIntegrityActivism
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on social justice, one might say, 'As John Lewis reminded us, our sense of moral authority can inspire collective action.'
More from John Lewis
All quotes →The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.
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Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
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I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.'
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We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
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If it hadn't been for that march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, there would be no Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
John LewisRead
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