I wrote a diary on my memorable encounter and conversation with Congressman John Lewis . I woke up around 2:00 AM this morning to see headlines of John Lewis’s passing. I was immediately saddened.
I sleep with the television on sometimes and this was not what I wanted to hear first thing upon waking and floods of memories filled my head until around 5:00. I met John Lewis back in the mid 2000’s. I had the honor to speak with him for about 45 minutes and converse one on one with this giant of a man. I will never forget.
Below are excerpts from that diary I wrote years ago and read if you want insight of what he was REALLY like but you won’t find anything that did not come across the screen in his everyday walk. No matter who you were, you were important for him to speak with and he was a humble and a giant of a man and a true peacemaker. He, like Former President Carter held examples of true spiritual leadership and lives. One can feel the warmth and peace that come from a person who lives their faith and walks their walk. It radiates. I have been blessed to feel that peace and meet giants that walk among us. Never forget, John Lewis never created chaos and like President Carter, a peacemaker. A man of love and change. A man with a vision.
I wrote this diary after I received an email from him regarding the GOTV for Lois Frankle. He knew I had a passion for GOTV as I had handed him a GOTV CD I had composed with narration of how we must elect John Kerry. This event happened during the Kerry/Bush campaign in Atlanta, Ga. at a rally.
Amanda --
This is deeply personal for me.
I've been marching and preaching and fighting for voting rights for over 50 years. Today, we're seeing a deliberate and systematic effort on the part of Republican officials to prevent minorities, seniors, the young, and the poor from casting their ballots.
Republicans are intent on beating my friend Lois Frankel and we can't let them steal this election. We must do everything we can to protect the vote. We set a goal by Sunday to make sure we have 100 voters standing up for Lois.
Will you stand with Lois and help today so we can make sure she wins this November?
Lois believes like I do that voting is critical to our society and it matters. We must do everything we can to protect the vote. Too many courageous people have fought to secure the vote. Don't let it be taken away. Stand up for Lois and help us today with a gift. Please contribute now.
Thank you,
John Lewis
Excerpt from diary in 2012:
People were lining up and taking pictures and we walked outside to go to the car when I remember I had forgotten to hand that CD to Congressman Lewis or Sen. Cleland. I noticed a glowing, well dressed black gentleman walking not far from us. I immediately took her by the hand and said, " Let's go" I got to give this CD to Congressman Lewis. We walked briskly to catch up with him before he got in his ride, I was sure was about to pick him up.
I caught up with Congressman Lewis, and he remembered us and said, " We meet again". I observed this beautiul soul who is not a tall man but a giant in my eyes. He said, " Young lady, if you ever want me to come speak at your school, just give me a call". We were not in his district but it did not matter as he offered to come to her school. She was overwhelmed when he handed her his card.
Today I went inside my email and maybe like some of you, you got this in your inbox. This email brought back my meetings with Congressman Lewis and one in particuliar in 2004 with our teenage daughter, Brandy.
This was the email I received and then I will proceed to tell you about the man I was so blessed to speak with. ................................................
Subject Line: They don't want you to vote................................................................
Amanda --Please jump below the squigglyThis is deeply personal for me.
I've been marching and preaching and fighting for voting rights for over 50 years. Today, we're seeing a deliberate and systematic effort on the part of Republican officials to prevent minorities, seniors, the young, and the poor from casting their ballots.
Republicans are intent on beating my friend Lois Frankel and we can't let them steal this election. We must do everything we can to protect the vote. We set a goal by Sunday to make sure we have 100 voters standing up for Lois.
Will you stand with Lois and help today so we can make sure she wins this November?
Lois believes like I do that voting is critical to our society and it matters. We must do everything we can to protect the vote. Too many courageous people have fought to secure the vote. Don't let it be taken away. Stand up for Lois and help us today with a gift. Please contribute now.
Thank you,
John Lewis
The year was 2004. I was engaged in the Kerry Campaign. I was calling and trying to attend as many rallys as I could. I had just had a visit from the C-Span Bus and was hyped about the 2004 election including a Get out the Vote CD of narration of which I put together of facts and either sold cheap or gave away. I know all the proceeds went to helping veterans.
I think Doc Zombie may still have a copy of it. There were months of research going into that CD. My husband helped me record it digitally before we mastered it in a studio. We were in Georgia.
The Kerry Campaign was holding a rally in Atlanta and I decided on Saturday, I would attend that Sunday rally. I asked our 13 year old if she wanted to go and she did. We found a parking spot and got out of the car and walked to see the lines and of course the Bush protestors across the street. We walked into the Indoor arena, and I had the CD with me. I carried it with me but no camera. I was waiting for the rally to begin when I was asked to join Veterans on stage. I remember I had my husband's jacket that displayed 101st and Helping Vets displayed on it.
Brandy was thrilled that we were on stage and getting to be standing with Sen. Kerry and I spotted Sen Cleland and went to talk with him a bit and then took my place back on stage with vets and advocates.
I caught up with Congressman Lewis, and he remembered us and said, " We meet again". I observed this beautiul soul who is not a tall man but a giant in my eyes. He said, " Young lady, if you ever want me to come speak at your school, just give me a call". We were not in his district but it did not matter as he offered to come to her school. She was overwhelmed when he handed her his card. She then said, "My Mom said you knew Martin Luther King". This is where the story got really great for me. He looked at me and said, " I did know Dr. King and he was a good friend."
The rest of the story is at the above link.
I cannot add more to this post other than to tell you that this was one of the greatest leaders that this country has ever had. We can count Dr. Fergi Reid Sr. among the great who I have also had the pleasure to call friend and is another Freedom Get out the Vote Leader.
I mourn for the Lewis family and our country today. It bites my soul to know that this giant of a man is gone but it soothes the bite to know he accomplished so much and worked so hard for what we all must do. Vote and as he said to me, “ Create some good trouble”. He meant peacefully but never give up. It soothes me to know he is out of pain and suffering of what we are witnessing today.
Thanks for listening.
I am grieving today but found this song appropriate.