In Memoriam 2020: John Lewis (1940–2020) Tribute List

In 1963, John Lewis was the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, one of the "big six" who organized the March on Washington. He was beaten repeatedly for his voting rights activism, nearly dying more than once during the Freedom Rides and other civil rights demonstrations. He went on to serve 17 terms in Congress, where he was known as the "Conscience of Congress." This remembrance of an American hero includes words from his books and speeches.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abundant
    present in great quantity
    "You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone — any person or any force — dampen, dim or diminish your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant."
    – Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America (2017)
  2. discipline
    a system of rules of conduct or method of practice
    “On that day, on that day, 600 people marched into history, walking two by two down this sidewalk, not interfering with the free flow of trade and commerce, not interfering with traffic, with a kind of military discipline.”
    – Speech on 50th anniversary of Selma march (Mar, 2015)
  3. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    "Every turn this administration demonstrates disdain and disregard for the law and for the constitution."
    Impeachment hearings (Sep 24, 2019)
  4. eventuality
    a possible event or occurrence or result
    "Faith is being so sure of what the spirit has whispered in your heart that your belief in its eventuality is unshakable."
    – Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America (2017)
  5. exploitation
    an act that victimizes someone
    By and large, American politics is dominated by politicians who build their careers on immoral compromises and ally themselves with open forms of political, economic, and social exploitation.
    – Speech at the March on Washington (Aug 28, 1963)
  6. fulfillment
    the act of consummating something, as a desire or promise
    If you ask me whether [Obama's] election... is the fulfillment of Dr. King's dream, I say, "No, it's just a down payment." There's still too many people 50 years later, there's still too many people that are being left out and left behind.
    –Interview in The Grio (Sep 24, 2016)
  7. hamlet
    a community of people smaller than a village
    "I appeal to all of you to get into this great revolution that is sweeping this nation. Get in and stay in the streets of every city, every village and hamlet of this nation until true freedom comes, until the revolution of 1776 is complete."
    – Speech at the March on Washington (Aug 28, 1963)
  8. inclusion
    the act of making a part of something
    "When we look across this convention hall it is self-evident that we are the party of inclusion."
    – Speech at Democratic National Convention (1988)
  9. iteration
    the act or process of doing or saying again
    "We are an iteration democracy. One people. One nation. One family, the American family."
    – Speech at Democratic National Convention (1988)
  10. mandate
    a formal statement of a command to do something
    “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. To do something. Our children and their children will ask us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’ For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.”
    Impeachment hearings (Sep 24, 2019)
  11. misgiving
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
    We come here today with a great sense of misgiving.
    – Speech at the March on Washington (Aug 28, 1963)
  12. overcome
    win a victory over
    Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won.
    – Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America (2017)
  13. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
    "Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”
    – Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America (2017)
  14. reconcile
    come to terms
    “It is better to reconcile and not divide, it is better to build and not tear down.”
    – Speech at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication (Oct, 2006)
  15. redeem
    save from sins
    "Get out there and push and pull until we redeem the soul of America."
    – Speech on 50th anniversary of Selma march (Mar, 2015)
  16. segregated
    separated or isolated from others or a main group
    By the force of our demands, our determination, and our numbers, we shall splinter the segregated South into a thousand pieces and put them together in the image of God and democracy.
    – Speech at the March on Washington (Aug 28, 1963)
  17. sharecropper
    a tenant farmer who owes a portion of each harvest for rent
    We must have legislation that will protect the Mississippi sharecropper who is put off of his farm because he dares to register to vote.
    – Speech at the March on Washington (Aug 28, 1963)
  18. veer
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    “In terms of our elected officials, I think we need to ask...: How far should we go with our need to know before we completely veer off into the personal and the private and leave behind any chance of having a legitimate debate or discussion or discourse about the issues at hand?”
    – Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement (Oct 18, 1999)
Created on Sun Jul 19 15:57:53 EDT 2020 (updated Mon Jul 20 21:27:56 EDT 2020)

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