His Truth Is Marching On

As we begin this journey through the life of a man whose footsteps echo in the halls of history, it is essential to understand the soil from which he rose. Imagine a rural Alabama farm in the early 20th century, where the sun rises over cotton fields and a small wooden house stands weathered but proud. Here, a young boy named John Lewis took his first breaths amidst the lingering shadows of slavery and the harsh realities of segregation. His great-grandfather, born into enslavement in 1862, was a living testament to a brutal past that was never truly past for the African American community.

John’s early years were marked by the hard labor of sharecropping, where his mother’s hands bore the scars of relentless toil under the Southern sun. Yet, within this hardship, there was a sanctuary—the church. The rhythmic singing of hymns like 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' and the solemn cadence of sermons offered a spiritual refuge and a call to justice. From the earliest days, John felt a deep disturbance at the meanness of the world around him, a feeling that would ignite a lifelong commitment to change.

One of the most endearing and telling images from his childhood is that of a boy preaching to his chickens, a small but profound act of compassion and responsibility. It was here, among the clucking hens, that he learned discipline, patience, and the power of love—a love that would later fuel his nonviolent resistance. This early connection between faith and action set the stage for his future as a preacher and activist.

Yet, the world outside was unforgiving. The brutal murder of Jesse Thornton nearby, a man lynched for failing to show deference to a white policeman, was a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurked in everyday life. Such violence was not distant history but a present reality that shaped the consciousness of young John Lewis.

Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, Lewis’s imagination soared. A summer trip to Buffalo, New York, revealed a world where black and white children played together, where escalators carried shoppers in gleaming stores, and where neighbors of different races lived side by side. This glimpse of possibility contrasted starkly with the segregated South and fueled his hope for a better future.

Education and church were twin pillars in his life. He cherished biographies of African American heroes and found inspiration in the biblical stories of deliverance and justice. The gospel was not just about the afterlife but about transforming life here and now. He understood early that faith demanded courage and action.

As this chapter closes, we see a boy shaped by the harsh realities of his environment yet buoyed by an unyielding spirit and faith. This foundation prepared him to hear a voice that would change his life forever—the voice of a preacher calling for justice through love and nonviolence, a voice that beckoned him toward a destiny of profound impact.

Let us now move forward to explore how this young man embraced the spirit of history and the powerful philosophy of nonviolence that would guide his path.