Where was john lewis born

 

John Lewis () is one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the s. He was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, participated in sit-in demonstrations, freedom rides, voter registration drives and was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington.

Lewis has been serving in the U.S. Congress since representing Georgia.

Congressman john lewis biography for kids In office June — May Looking for More Great Reads? Lewis recalls "I grew up in rural Alabama, very poor, very few books in our home. At 21, Lewis was one of 13 original Freedom Riders , who were beaten by angry mobs and arrested.

In he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor for lifetime achievement.

Early Life and Education

John Lewis was born in Troy, Alabama on February 21, His parents were sharecroppers.

He attended segregated Pike County Training High School in Brundidge, Alabama. Lewis continued his studies at the American Baptist Theological Seminary and at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where he received his bachelor degree in Religion and Philosophy. It was during his university years when he got involved in civil rights activism.

From a young age he admired Martin Luther King Jr., his leadership and philosophy of nonviolence.

Congressman john lewis biography for kids pictures Explore how John went from being a young farm boy to a famous activist, politician, and leader. See all books by Tonya Leslie, PhD. Following his death, Troy University announced that the main building on its flagship campus would bear the name of John Lewis. John Lewis facts for kids Kids Encyclopedia Facts.

He was involved in the establishment of the SNCC and the organization of Sit-in demonstrations. Lewis also volunteered in CORE organized Freedom Rides, risking his life to challenge segregation in interstate transportation; he was severely beaten and arrested.

SNCC

From to John Lewis served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Committee – SNCC which helped organize students in civil right protests such as sit-in demonstrations, freedom rides, voting registration drives, peaceful marches and other activities.

Representing SNCC, at age 23, Lewis became the youngest speaker at the historic March on Washington in and was recognized as one of the Big Six leaders of the African American Civil Rights Movement.

He left SNCC in to direct the Field Foundation and the Voter Education Project.

U.S. Congress

John Lewis, a Democrat, was elected to Congress in November representing Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District since then.

Lewis’ statement when Barack Obama won the presidency in

“When we were organizing voter registration drives, going on the Freedom Rides, sitting in, coming here to Washington for the first time, getting arrested, going to jail, being beaten, I never thought, I never dreamed of the possibility that an African American would one day be elected president of the United States.”