His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope

In discussing the strategy of peaceful resistance, the book mentions the inspiration that James Lawson and Martin Luther King drew from Mahatma Gandhi. Who was Gandhi, and what struggle was he engaged in? How does it compare to the struggle of African Americans in this country (i.e., what are the similarities and differences)?

The 1963 March on Washington to dramatize the struggle for African American rights was not a new idea. It was first proposed by A. Philip Randolph in 1941 but did not take place. Who was Randolph, and what circumstances led him to call for the 1941 march? Why was it called off? What role did Randolph play in the 1963 march?

In the Overture, Meacham writes about the different ways to fight for justice and notes that Lewis represented the way of nonviolence and peaceful resistance. Part of the book’s narrative concerns the move away from this approach over time in favor of more confrontational methods. In 1966, Lewis lost his post as chairman of the SNCC to Stokely Carmichael, one of those advocating a stronger stance. How exactly did the two leaders differ? Compare and contrast their tenures as chairman. What specific tactics or events show Carmichael’s move away from the strategy of nonviolence?

The 2000s have seen a resurgence of white supremacy and a rise in racist incidents. Do you think Lewis’s methods to combat them are still relevant and effective today? In the Afterword, he expresses his optimism that they can still help defeat the forces of hate. Do you agree? Why or why not? If not, what methods would be more effective today?

As of 2021, states such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia have passed more restrictive laws regarding voting. Some claim that these laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud; others say that the purpose is to suppress the legitimate voting of certain populations or areas of the state. Pick one state that has recently passed such laws and review the changes. In your opinion, are these changes a positive move that protects rights or a negative move that harms them? Why? Do they compare to past Jim Crow laws that restricted voting? Explain your reasoning.

The term “civil rights movement” is often shorthand for protests during the 1950s and 1960s that resulted in important legislation protecting civil rights. However, African Americans worked toward civil rights for decades previously and continued to do so afterward. Today, one major aspect of this work is the Black Lives Matter movement. Compare and contrast that with the civil rights movement of the 1960s that this book describes. How are the issues at the forefront of each similar and different? How do the tactics in each period compare? What role, if any, did John Lewis play in Black Lives Matter?

One result of the move away from nonviolent tactics and toward confrontation tactics was the formation of the Black Panther Party, which was among the more militant civil rights organizations. Who were the Black Panthers, and what methods and strategies did they espouse? Do you think these were more effective than peaceful resistance? Use specific examples to explain why or why not.

When this book was published (2020), most southern states strongly supported Republican presidents. During the period that the book describes, most of the same states strong supported Democratic presidents. What happened to change this? How did the civil rights movement factor into it? How was the year 1968 pivotal to this transformation, and what role did George Wallace play in that year’s presidential election?