March Book 3 Analysis

Brandon Ginn

Dr. Morgan

History

4/1/1997

March Book 3 Analysis

 The Civil Rights Movement was the greatest and most influential rise of people to ever occur in America. The dedication and passion the people in the movement held is extraordinary and proves Americas never ending fight for freedom and equality. The movement changed Americas way of life forever and paved a path of hope for Negros and minorities. It was the push we needed to achieve full and fair democracy for EVERYONE in America, it was the unfortunate fight that had to take place in order to wake up and set straight the people of America. In “March book 3” John Lewis outlines his personal experience in the Civil Rights Movement and explains the cruelty and unjust treatment of Negros during these times. He explains the “war” these Negros fought against their own country in order to gain simple rights already promised to everyone in America. He begins the book with the tragic bombing and murder of 4 young girls at 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963, which sparked the urge for an “All-Out Revolution.” The bombing caused Lewis and Diane Nash to come up with a plan for “Action in Montgomery” with protest of thousands of people that would block roads and businesses with the goal of a “complete shutdown.” Though Dr. King agreed the people needed direction and a “constructive outlet for their pain and frustration^[1],” he did not think they possessed the significant money and resources to undertake a protest this big. Lewis believe something needed to be done, he knew a response or action in any way was essential in this tragic time. He began with protest in Dallas County Alabama where 63 protestors were beaten and arrested by Sheriff Jim Clarke and his deputies only 1 day after the bombing. This unjust treatment from Clarke caused a picketing on Dallas County Courthouse by teenagers where all participants were arrested. The bold actions of these teenagers had never been seen before, no one had ever “challenged Clarke on his own doorsteps^[2]” and according to Lewis is where the Civil Rights Movement began. The bombing woke up the Negro community and fueled their passion for fair and equal rights pushing them to act out against the unjust laws and government to fight for what they know is right. More protests took place at the Dallas County Courthouse resulting in John Lewis’s first arrest in Selma and the arrest of many other protestors. On October 7th , 1963 before Lewis’s release, SNCC organized their biggest protest to date called “Freedom Day” which took place during voter registration and included famous author James Baldwin. The protest took place on a very hot day so law-enforcement decided to lock all bathrooms and offices, and restrict anyone from leaving the line or getting supplies from bystanders in hopes of breaking the protest. The protestors held their heads high until two SNCC members, Chico Neblett and Avery Williams, broke the police order and tried to bring the protestors water. The two members were beaten by police and then continued to harass the protest until the Court closed at 4:30. Lewis believed the protest was a success due to the absence of arrests and considered this small progress and a beacon of hope. The Freedom Vote and the Mississippi Summer Project led to the creation of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party on April 2nd with the intention of getting real votes for Negros. They aimed to infiltrate the “Segregation-Based” democratic party and their convention seats on a Precinct, County, and State level. On June 21, 1964 three of the first Freedom Volunteers in Mississippi failed to check in upon due to being pulled over and arrested for speeding upon arrival. Word got to John about James, Andy, and Mickey’s disappearance but even though he was almost immediately certain they were dead he tried to remain hopeful. Sheriff Cecil Price admitted to arresting the three men but claimed he released all three boys that evening and ordered them “to leave the county^[3],” and later the Station Wagon the three boys were using was located in the Bogue Chitto Creek burned down to the frame. Lewis and other members questioned the Sheriff and demanded to see the burned church and Station Wagon, but they refused claiming many bogus excuses like trespassing and that they are concerned with their safety. Lewis didn’t buy it and by the end of the meeting he “had no doubt that they KNEW what happened^[4]”, and soon enough a body was found. Protests continued until the event on July 6th, 1964 which let to Lewis’s and many others arrest also resulting in the Injunction by Alabama Circuit Judge James Hare banning gathers of more than three in Selma which according to Lewis “stopped the Selma movement in its tracks^[5].” On August 26th Lyndon Johnson was chosen as President Nominee at the Democratic National Convention and the 2 seats the MFDP was promised were completely removed from the stage. The petty act of the convention organizers made Lewis very angry, they had played by the rules and worked hard to get what he considered as a victory, a step forward. Lewis said  “when they arrived at the doorsteps (of the convention) they found the door slammed right in their faces^[6].” Lewis considered this the “turning point of the movement^[7],” and the worst part was that this coward act wasn’t even necessary. Johnson still lost the South but it didn’t even matter because overall he dominated the re-election and would have with or without the MFDP. Soon Lewis, along with other members of SNCC, were invited by Harry Belafonte to join him on a three week adventure to Africa to speak and share ideas about their actions in America. Bob and Donna Moses, Jim Foreman, Don Harris, Fannie Lou Hamer, and many more SNCC members along with Lewis who had never left the US before jumped quick at the opportunity to accompany Belafonte on his Journey to Africa. Lewis describes the trip as basically a vacation for SNCC, so him and Harris decided to stay longer traveling Africa meeting with other activists. After 72 days of traveling, “playing tourist,” and meeting Malcolm X on November 22nd, Lewis and Harris decided to return to America. After receiving the Nobel peace price, Dr. King met with president Johnson and tried to persuade him to push a voting rights bill, Johnson denied it and told King to “make me do it^[8].” Dr. King constructed a plan of Mass Protest in order to disrupt the New Mayor Joe Smitherman plan to attract northern business and investments to the South. The first protest took place on January 18th where they were shut down and shoved in the alley until the court house closed, a second protest took place the next day but this time Lewis refused to obey Sheriff Clarke orders. Dr. King was absent in this second protest that ended in unjust beating and the arrest of 60 protestors, fortunately NAACP lawyers were able to get them out the very next day. January 20th, the next day Lewis got out of jail and was back on the streets leading more pretests resulting in yet another arrest for “agitating.” Thankfully Lewis got out in time to see what he described as “something truly remarkable^[9],” the gathering of many school teachers to march and protest on courthouse steps. More and more protests occurred resulting in the arrest of Lewis, Dr. King, and many others along with the brutal beating of Annie Lee Cooper and the “Forced March” where 100 students ran from the courthouse to the county jail. On February 8th a speech by C.T. Vivian at a rally protesting SCLC member arrests hyped up the audience to march to the Jail and sing, the protestors were quickly met with a resistance of State Troopers that caused a retreat and beatings. Troopers followed and shot Veteran Jimmie Lee Jackson who was critically injured and left for a half hour before being helped and two days later Malcom X was shot. Word of Jacksons death came during Malcom’s funeral, both deaths “weighed heavily on everyone^[10].” Lewis really struggled due to his hope in Malcom and “what could have been for him^[11],” which led him to his idea to march from Selma to Montgomery. Lewis believe the people of Selma wanted to march and rise up, he knew they were hurting and just needed a direction or leader to fuel the movement and people to acquire what they’ve fought so hard to obtain. Soon word came that Dr. King would be leading the march from Selma to Montgomery but after many attempts to persuade, SNCC still refused to be part of the march but still Lewis was determined to march. On March 7th Lewis arrived in Selma for the march and soon got word that Dr. King would not be attending His march, but Lewis knew there was no way to turn these people around and send them home. The first attempt on the March ended in brutal beatings of Lewis and many other protestors with Lewis having to be taken to the hospital. The beatings were caught on camera and broadcasted across America causing March 7th 1965 to be named “Bloody Sunday,” Dr. King responded with a request to stop Alabama from interfering with the march. On March 9th the second march took placed led my Dr. King, the march ended with a turn around ordered by King at the same bridge because of a court order prohibiting a march until a further court date. During a break in hearing Lewis traveled New York to attend a rally with over 30,000 participants, at that same time George Wallace was meeting with Johnson to try and shut down the Selma Marches. Wallace’s hopes to stop Lewis and King’s march backfired resulting in Johnson speech and passing of the Voting Rights Act where Johnson preached the need for true racial equality in America. He presented his plan to ensure the right to vote to every man in America and enforce harsh punishments to anyone who stands in their way, he declared “their(negros) cause must be our cause too^[12]” backing up the Selma Marchs saying “it is the effort of American Negros to secure for themselves the full blessing of America Life^[13].” Soon the injunction to march was granted and was set to take place on March 21st, only two weeks after Bloody Sunday and the first march. The march brought the attendance of many important Civil Rights Movement activists like Jim Forman, Any Young, Dr. King, and many more. The march took several days ending in Montgomery Alabama on March 25th with many speeches from important activists like Rosa Parks, Amelia Boynton, and Dr. King. The signing of the voting rights act was huge step forward for Negros in America, all the blood, sweat, and tears were starting to pay off. Even though it gave them hope, the violence and murders and racism did not stop with the signing of that bill. Negros in America will still have to fight for many more years to gain true social and economical freedom. This book opened my eyes to struggle and passion John Lewis and many other Civil Rights Movement activists held during these times. The ability to stand up and fight nonviolently while everyone else does everything they possibly can to harm you is amazing. I appreciate and know now what had to be done to turn America away from their sick racist views, and even though I don’t have to struggle the same way a color person does I still thank John Lewis for his sacrifice and dedication.