Just when I think it’s safe to develop some semblance of balance to exist inside this “normal-for-now” moment, something else happens to conflict with that. Is it me or does this moment in time feel more unusual than any other time in the last 50 years? Though I didn’t know John Lewis personally, his death has given me great pause for consideration and reflection.
February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020
My take away from his passing is a rather sad one. He died at 80 years old, fighting for the exact same thing he started fighting for in 1958, at 18 years old. For 62 years John Lewis fought for Black American citizens to have the full right to vote, then fought to protect the right as it was consistently threatened, and when it was gutted in 2013 by the Supreme Court, he fought to secure it again. “Gutted” with regards to the Voting Rights Act, basically means states once again are able to adjust their voting policies and practices at will, just as it was prior to the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Like… voting roll purging, unnecessary additional ID requirements, moving or shutting down polling places with little or no notice in “certain” areas. Remember the recent Kentucky primary, where only one polling place was left to service 600,000 residents? All the voter suppression efforts enacted in Georgia over the last two years? They wouldn’t have been able to do any of that prior to 2013. Rep. John Lewis has been fighting tirelessly to restore the Voting Rights Act, now known as The Voting Rights Advancement Act H.R.4. But like 400 other Democratic legislative documents passed in the House and forwarded to the Senate Majority Leader, it continues to sit and fulfill his self-given title, “the grim reaper”. But I digress. I’m posting this as a part 2 and companion post to my November 2018 “Elections, Voting and What Year Is It?” post, where I dive into more of the chronological history of The Voting Rights Act, and the decades-long struggle to cement it into law for every American citizen.
With the current president, considering his past overlook to fairness and the rule of law, it’s safe to say, those in his camp, will probably do all they can to ensure a 2nd victory for him; with more of the same from 2016 and help from a couple other countries thrown in for good measure. Cheating not withstanding, the right to vote may be taken for granted by those who’ve never had it challenged. But to Black people, it’s a precious thing that most of us consider every time we exercise it; with footnoted images etched in our minds of John Lewis and those he marched with, went to jail with, and risked his life with, like Rev. C.T. Vivian, who coincidentally, was once arrested with him on the same day, and who both died on the same day.
Like Minds…
Rev. C.T. Vivian, July 30, 1924 – July 17, 2020
Rep. John Lewis, February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020
It doesn’t matter if there’s cheating in an election. Well, it does but, you can’t cheat enough to win, if everyone is allowed to vote unhindered. The other “gutting” of the Voting Rights Act was redistricting and gerrymandering. These are sneakier processes and implementations that manipulate votes from “certain” counties. But I digress again. You can find out more about this HERE. And you can also read up on one particular effort to fight it, led by former President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder HERE.
It’s mind-boggling to me to think that this has been an issue my entire life of near 60 years. I often wonder, what would Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. think of these times? What would those who marched and got into “good trouble” with him, make of this progress-not-progress moment? What would they make of the continued bloodshed and turmoil that certain citizens of this country continue to face? What will it take to truly be considered equal here in America? Thank you John Robert Lewis, for your tremendous sacrifice; for giving your life and blood, making it possible for us to carry the torch of true freedom a little bit further. You kept the faith. You fought the good fight Sir. You finished your race. Rest well. We’ll take it from here.♥
Thank you Ingrid. I do not think it is a stretch to say that had Mr. Lewis known you personally that he would have considered himself the better for it. I say this because your positive outlook coupled with your eagle eyed appraisals of the challenges of our time is something he would have found most appealing & I dare say inspiring as well. This assessment is based on personal impressions I made of the man decades ago as well as my understanding of the arc of his life and his attendant commitment at great personal risk to himself to doing his part to create a society more & more committed to achieving equal justice & equal opportunity for all as well as leaving behind a world that is a far better place than it would be otherwise because he lived.
His efforts to achieve the former are tasks yet unfinished but the latter is true by every imaginable measure and to the extent that you & others like you remain committed to carrying forward the torch for justice which he is sadly no longer able to carry himself is proof positive that his living was not in vain and that alone is reason enough to state that had he known you, he would have loved, admired, and cherished you as is undoubtedly the case with all of us who do.
Thank you so much for sharing Eric. I so appreciate your complimentary sentiments!
Ingrid
I met him several times during my Morehouse College years (1983-87) and he was as approachable and down to Earth as advertised. Sadly, what I remember most about the man is the many dents in his skull put there from all the beatings he took advancing the cause of human rights. It drove home the enormous amount of suffering he was willing to endure in order to make the lives of people like me a little better.
God Bless him and may he Forever Rest in Peace.
E
Thank you Eric, for sharing your take-away from meeting this great man. He indeed was the epitome of John 15:13, laying his life down for all of us in the name of love.
Ingrid
It saddened me to hear of the passing of such a great man. He led a purposeful life and left a legacy in which we should all follow. That is to stand up for inequality and exercise your right to vote, and hope for change to come! Thank you, my dear and beautiful friend, Ingrid for this tribute.
XO,
Nan
Yes Nan! He definitely lived an exemplary life and will be sorely missed. We must continue the fight so his work is not in vain. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to “stop by” and comment. It’s much appreciated love :)xo
Ingrid