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Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.

John Lewis

I met Rosa Parks when I was 17. I met Dr. [Martin Luther] King when I was 18. These two individuals inspired me to find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble. So I got in good trouble, necessary trouble.
JOHN LEWIS

Individual Trouble
Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?
JOHN LEWIS

Determination Generation Inspirational Leaving Legacy People
Sometimes I feel like crying, tears of happiness, tears of joy, to see the distance we’ve come and the progress we’ve made.
JOHN LEWIS

Cry Distance Emotional Feeling Happiness Progress
I believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe that we have an obligation to condemn speech that is racist, bigoted, anti-Semitic, or hateful.
JOHN LEWIS

Believe Freedom Hate Obligation Racism Speech
Non violence as a way of life, a way of living, not simply as a technique or a tactic.
JOHN LEWIS

Life Live Non Violence Tactics Technique
Some of us gave a little blood for the right to participate in the democratic process.
JOHN LEWIS

Blood Democracy Participate Process
We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now!
JOHN LEWIS

Freedom Racism Want
We are one community, one family. Really, we are the American family.
JOHN LEWIS

Community Country Family Unity
We must do the work that justice and equality calls us to do.
JOHN LEWIS

Call Equality Justice Work
Never lose your hope, be optimistic.
JOHN LEWIS

Hope Lose One Liner Optimism
People will never, ever forget what happened and how it happened, and it is my hope that we are on our way to greater change.
JOHN LEWIS

Black Lives Matter Change Forget Happen Hope People
You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.
JOHN LEWIS

Afraid Believe Courage Speak
There’s nothing wrong with a little agitation for what’s right or what’s fair.
JOHN LEWIS

Active Justice Right
Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.
JOHN LEWIS

Country Exercise Possible Struggle Suffering Vote
Fury spends itself pretty quickly when there’s no fury facing it.
JOHN LEWIS

Fury Pretty Quick
A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.
JOHN LEWIS

Democracy Government Justice Power

Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.

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Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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