Cathy Coons I learn so much from your books and I look forward to adding this to my collection. Would this be good for young adults? It is so important to reach and teach our youth.
John Lewis This book is a must for young people of all ages. In recent days I’ve seen 7, 8 and 9 year olds reading the book. I’ve seen high school students, college students, reading the book and asking “When will book 2 come out?”. There are colleges and universities making this required reading for freshman. Georgia State University made it required reading for 3500 freshman. Michigan State Univeristy made it required reading for more than 8500 entering freshman. In the city of East Lanson, it has made one book one community – so the entire community is reading it. It’s not just good for young people and young adults. It’s good for all people to remember the way of peace, the way of love and the way of non violence. March is saying we must respect the dignity and worth of every human being. As humans, we all have a spark of the divine in us.
Anna Maske Hi Congressman Lewis, what can we do as a society to inspire younger generations to rely on nonviolence when participating in social movements?
John Lewis: It would be good – I know it’s impossible – but to take young people and people not so young back to some historic sites of the modern day movement. Back to Birmingham, back to Montgomery and to Selma, and witness the changes that have occurred. I think young people, and I know members of Congress who have traveled, are deeply moved by walking across the bridge in Selma, Alabama.
Sarah Mathews Hi Congressman Lewis. I am a professor of social studies education and I am responsible for preparing future social studies teachers. Yet I feel that social studies is ignored in today’s schools as we focus on reading and math. I am interested to know your thoughts about the state of youth civic engagement today. What lessons do you hope to impart from your experience on the youth of today? Do you think our youth face different battles and if so what is your advice for them?
Andrew Aydin Social Studies are incredibly important! How can we have an engaged democracy if we don’t teach our young people how to be good citizens? Young people need to read everything, learn, and engage with their community.
Brian Burns I submit that when nonviolent protesters are met with armored vehicles and riot gear, the tension becomes escalated on both sides and chaos ensues. We saw that in Ferguson. Why is the Federal Government arming local Police Departments these weapons and what should be done to end this madness?
Andrew Aydin It must stop, and in the face of such forces, conducting orderly and disciplined nonviolent protests becomes all that much more important. It is the only way to successfully dramatize the struggle. It was police brutality that the protestors in Selma faced, State Troopers fitted with gas masks, cattle prods and batons, and the violence they conducted shock the conscience of America, thereby forcing Congress and the President to act. We are going to have to do that again.
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