There isn’t much more to be said about Congressman John Lewis than has already been said or shown in his deep legacy, so I want to share a personal story from my days at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, AL.
Somewhere in the early 2000s we were honoring Congressman Lewis at the Annual Freedom Flame Awards. I had just finished redoing a number of exhibits in the museum and had done some extensive research about that Nashville movement connection.
Folks like John Lewis, Diane Nash and my beloved Rev. CT Vivian had studied under Rev. Lawson there and I found pictures of John Lewis’ very first arrest that he had never seen! I was so excited to put together a slide show for his awards presentation and worked hard on it.
The night of the awards when it was time to present him the award, much to my HORROR, we could not get the slide show to work. I was devastated and embarrassed after making such a big deal about showing it off to him. Mike Collins, his long time COS tried to comfort me but...
I was a wreck.
Anyway, the next day after the re-enactment was done when folks usually scatter, I was back in the museum doing clean up/wrap up stuff and in comes Mike and John Lewis. 😳
Mr. Lewis walks up to me and says I hear you have something to show me.
Anyway, the next day after the re-enactment was done when folks usually scatter, I was back in the museum doing clean up/wrap up stuff and in comes Mike and John Lewis. 😳
Mr. Lewis walks up to me and says I hear you have something to show me.
I was so excited I could barely get t computer going. I put on the slideshow and he knelt down in front of the computer watching it and then...y’all, he turned to me with teary eyes and said “Where did you get all of this?” I told him about my research and the new exhibit.
He was SO grateful and I was so overwhelmed with pride. I was also floored by the humility. I didn’t have as close of a relationship with him as other CR leaders but I’ve been around him the greater part of the last 25 years and that was consistent about him.
As much of a loss as this moment feels like, I’m more grateful than sad right now. Grateful for the blueprint he and others gave us, grateful for the lessons of what to do and what not to do. Grateful for sacrifice, the courage and the tenacity.
I am emboldened for march on.
I am emboldened for march on.
Oh! Almost forgot. Here is a grainy blackberry picture of Congressman Lewis looking at the slideshow! 
