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
Selma helped make it possible for hundreds and thousands of people in the South to become registered voters and encouraged people all across America to become participants in a democratic process.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the impact of Selma in empowering individuals to register to vote and participate in democracy.
John Lewis emphasizes the significant role that the Selma marches played in the civil rights movement, illustrating how these events not only enabled countless citizens in the South to register as voters but also inspired a nationwide commitment to democratic participation. The quote serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for voting rights and the importance of civic engagement.
Themes
SelmaVotingDemocracyCivil RightsParticipation
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting about voter registration, one could quote this to inspire 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.
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