Remembering John Lewis
Posted by Gilder Lehrman Staff on Monday, 07/20/2020
Longtime US congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, who first gained the world's attention through his participation in the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, died on July 17, 2020. He was remembered in the New York Times, Guardian, Washington Post, and innumerable other publications.
We honor Representative Lewis by remembering his work and his legacy as represented in our archives and current programs.
2019 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Alysha Butler presented her Voting Rights class as part of the 2020 Gilder Lehrman History School in conjunction with curriculum developed by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the Hutchins Center’s Selma Online. Below Butler discusses the many organizations involved in the Selma movement, featuring the SNCC and John Lewis starting around the 16-minute mark. Follow along with the curriculum found here.
In 2019, the Gilder Lehrman Institute produced an educational video about African American Voting Rights in America, featuring an exploration of Selma.