cawacko
Well-known member
Just read his new biography by David Greenberg (excellent book). I'm familiar of course with his story but was fascinating reading all the details. The '60's were before my time but some here may remember this. Lewis followed King's teachings very closely and wasfor an integrated society and very much followed the beliefs of non-violence. But just as King got pushback from some in the black community, so did Lewis (largely from those in the Black Power movement). It's interesting to read that people questioned Lewis' blackness.
And when he won his Congressional seat in Atlanta in 1986 he beat Julian Bond, who was a product of Atlanta's black elite. Showing that classism doesn't discriminate by race (Lewis was born very poor in rural Alabama) many thought Lewis was too country and not sophisticated enough to be a Congressmen compared to the erudite sophisticated Bond. But in an upset, Lewis beat him.
No one is perfect, especially politicians. But as far as politicians go Lewis was a man of integrity whose words and actions carried a lot of weight. He was a man who could talk the talk because he walked the walk.
And when he won his Congressional seat in Atlanta in 1986 he beat Julian Bond, who was a product of Atlanta's black elite. Showing that classism doesn't discriminate by race (Lewis was born very poor in rural Alabama) many thought Lewis was too country and not sophisticated enough to be a Congressmen compared to the erudite sophisticated Bond. But in an upset, Lewis beat him.
No one is perfect, especially politicians. But as far as politicians go Lewis was a man of integrity whose words and actions carried a lot of weight. He was a man who could talk the talk because he walked the walk.