The Graphic Novel March: Book One: Analysis

John Lewis has never let his 40+ arrest affect what he stands for. In Lewis’ book March, he tells his story of segregation in the 60’s and the events that shaped his life. From when he was a little kid, to an older adult, March displays Lewis deal with the segregation in the south, and the hard ships others endure. Although he experienced many events in his life, John Lewis used those events to build himself religiously and help others. Receiving his first bible, Jim Lawsons workshops, his decision not to go to college and Martin Luther King’s speech all helped him become who he is.

In the book trilogy, March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin. John talks about his life growing up and making a difference. These highlights of his life would make him develop into someone more important. He received a Bible from his uncle as a gift, the trip John took up to Buffalo was a realization of how different the northern and southern states were. Segregation didn’t exist in the north. Later, John met Jim Lawson and began attended his workshops about non-violent protesting, and lastly his first arrest. These highlights during his youth would become eye-opening to Lewis that what he was putting himself through to take down segregation in the south was a risk for his life to save future generations.

Everywhere you look you see many different beautiful scenes of nature and socitety. In the book March, the illustrator, Nate Powell, along with the authors, John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, use these scenes to illustrate the civil rights movement. The novel shows the growth of the main character, John Lewis, and how he started as a young child who grew up into a very influential man in the civil rights movement. March describes many influential moments in the civil rights movement, such as the lunch counter sit-ins and the Freedom Ride. The novel uses different types of imagery to enhance the story and add. Powel uses white and black to evoke a sense of sadness. The illustrator also uses different techniques to show the importance of different

The “social gospel” was the biggest inspiration and influence for Civil Rights leader, John Lewis. Which is prevalent throughout the first two books, of the March trilogy, written by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis himself. The Bible made its mark on Lewis when he was young, living on a farm. Leading him to the “social gospel” which started him down the path of nonviolence, and longing not just for personal reform but for social reform. As the Civil Rights movements became bigger, and as the philosophy of which John Lewis taught spread, others were inspired by the “social gospel.”

Jim Lawson is a civil rights leader who has had his story illustrated in a three volume hardcover graphic novel called March. It was written by Jim Lawson and Andrew Aydin, with art by Nate Powell. It was produced by Top Shelf Productions in 2015. This story covers the highs and lows of Lewis’ journey towards equality. Many of his influences are documented including; his childhood, a trip to New York, nonviolence workshops, lunch counter segregation, and the “Big Six”. It’s a powerful story that through its art, may capture the attention of those who frown upon traditional literary books.

In March book 2, author and activist, John Lewis, delivered a speech on August 28, 1963. Before John Lewis delivered his speech, there was a lot of ciaos occurring backstage about revising Lewis’ speech. Mr. Randolph wasn’t pleased with the way John Lewis worded parts of his speech and demanded for him to change it. After Lewis negotiated with Mr. Randolph, Lewis was still content with the arrangement of his speech. Lewis confronts his sentiments to the people regarding racial inequality. He emphasizes on the unfair acts that are implemented among the African American working class. John Lewis states, “While we stand here, there are sharecroppers in the Delta of Mississippi who are out in the fields working for less than three dollars a day, twelve hours a day” (Lewis Aydin 166). In this statement, Lewis explains his reasoning for assembling his speech. His objective was to arouse the public on the realism of the nation’s unjust behavior towards African Americans. Lewis explains the march on Washington is occurring because blacks don’t receive the same wages as whites. Lewis declares, “We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now” (Lewis Aydin 169). He proclaims that African Americans have been fighting for their freedom long enough and they are not willing to be patient. With his skillful use of appeals, Lewis applies powerful logos to illustrate racism, emotional pathos to connect with the audience, and ethos to appeal to the segregation and discrimination towards African Americans.

Even preparatory to the title of the work, the book leads to the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. The photographs show non-violent protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge as they come face to face with irate, tear-gas-armed police officers. The violence that unlatched the book is when at that time-governor George Wallace arranged for the state-troopers to assault the 600 peaceful dissenters in Alabama. In case you're not sure who Wallace is, Wallace stood for "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!" On page 12 it is dated January 20, 2009. Do you know what happened on that date? That was the day that former-President Barack Obama was inagurated. On page 14 on the 2009 TV broadcast it said, "Today, we reaffirm our commitment

This trilogy is entitled “March”, because of active marches that were happening in to protest of inequality of people of color. Several marches were depicted throughout the novel to show the perspectives of John Lewis and his civil right activists. Lewis and his comrades wanted their characteristics such as being as being resolute, unified, and steady to back up reasoning for their marches. Marches was a way to show strength and unity in a nonviolent way to get their points across. Lewis would govern these marches for his society that’s were being put in harm’s way like the bombing of the Loobys’.

The graphic novel March: Book One by primary author John Lewis, secondary author Andrew Aydin, and illustrator Nate Powell is an astonishing graphic novel that delivers the firsthand accounts of the civil rights movement through the eyes of John Lewis. The graphic novel follows John Lewis, who is now a congressman from Georgia, from his childhood in rural Alabama to his standoff against Mayor Ben West of Nashville, which ultimately led to the desegregation of lunch counters in Nashville. The graphic novel is highlighted by John Lewis’s constant urgings of nonviolent demonstrations by protestors, which Lewis acquired from his devotion of Mahatma Gandhi, who Lewis mentioned used “the way of nonviolence to free an entire nation of people” (Lewis

On August 28, 1963, John Lewis delivered his memorable speech on Washington to a 200,000 crowd of activist demanding peace and equality. Lewis’ purpose is to inspire others to join their march and make a mark on history. He adopts a demanding and bold tone in order to persuade the black activists and politicians to change the social norms and to join the social revolution. By demonstrating his demanding claims for equal rights to the politicians, whites, and African - Americans, John Lewis effectively utilizes syntax and diction to adequately get his message of hope, equality and desegregation.

Every person experiences specific points in their life that shapes who they are. This can be exhibited in the book March. Throughout the book the life events of John Lewis are displayed and it is clear to see that these events changed him. Even though many of the events in his life may have changed John Lewis, the turning points in John Lewis' life helped make him a more inspired man and more influential in the civil rights movement. John Lewis receives a bible, goes on to be inspired by MLK’s speech, gets arrested for his protests, and stops going home to his family as much all of which motivated him to help and support the civil rights movement.

John Lewis has never let his 40+ arrest affect what he stands for. In Lewis’ book March, he tells his story of segregation in the 60’s and the events that shaped his life. From when he was a little kid, to an older adult, March displays Lewis deal with the segregation in the south, and the hardships others endure. Although he experienced many events in his life, John Lewis used those events to build himself religiously and help others. Receiving his first bible, Jim Lawson’s workshops, his decision not to go to college and Martin Luther King’s speech all helped him become who he is.

The graphic novel trilogy, The March, tells a series of events that happen in John Lewis’s life for the better and for the worse. Throughout the books, he is faced with challenges that test his ability to stay true to his beliefs. When Lewis was a child, he received his first Bible from his uncle which was what sparked his heavy faith in God. During his spiritual journey, he began to listen to the teachings of MLK Jr. who impacted his life greatly. Lewis became the SNCC’s newest executive coordinating committee which opened his eyes to all the violence that was really apparent at the time.

March is a graphic memoir of John Lewis life, but most importantly, it is about his life during the Civil Rights Movement. The story begins with 2009 Congressman John Lewis getting ready

When people think of graphic novels, most likely you would think of children’s books or Superhero comics. Now this may be true; but the use of graphic novels hold a lot of benefits for adults as well. They’re the perfect way to share a message without any miscommunication. And let’s face it, almost every adult out has a favorite genre that can be shared in a graphic novel. I for one love comics with Anti-heroes and Sci-fi/Fantasies. One famous graphic novel that shows the power of illustration is Maus by Art Spiegelman, which illustrates the darkest points of the Holocaust with a perspective of mice (Jews) being suppressed by cats (Nazis).