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
When I was growing up in rural Alabama, it was impossible for me to register to vote. I didn't become a registered voter until I moved to Tennessee, to Nashville, as a student.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the obstacles faced in accessing voting rights, particularly in rural areas.
John Lewis reflects on his experience growing up in rural Alabama, where systemic barriers made it difficult for him to register to vote. His eventual ability to register in Tennessee signifies a broader narrative about the struggle for voting rights and the importance of civic engagement in overcoming such barriers.
Themes
VotingRightsEducationCivic EngagementEquality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for voting rights, one might quote John Lewis to emphasize the importance of access to the ballot.
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.
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