What Did John Lewis Impact On Education

John Lewis led a happy childhood since his birth in 1940. He was a hardworking African American boy who would help his sharecropper parents in the fields. Although happy, he constantly questioned segregation as well as the Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka ruling for not affecting his education rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was his inspiration. His sermons and his stand of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 was enough to encourage Lewis to make changes in the world. In 1957, Lewis left his Alabama home in exchange to American Baptist Theological Seminary in Tennessee to further educate himself to organize non violent protests such as sitting at segregated restaurant counters. Then, without telling his parents, he joined the Freedom Rides.

Another inspirational racial equality advocate is James Zwerg. Zwerg was raised by Caucasian parents who always taught him “Every man is equal”, but Zwerg was raised in a small town with

all-white residents. "(We) never heard, in our house, a derogatory word about anyone of another religion — we didn't talk race because race wasn't an issue — but you never talked down to the poor,". Zwerg first became interested in Civil Rights when he witnessed his roommate being prejudiced by his fellow classmates. He asked him why he wouldn’t snap back at them, but he would always reply “It doesn’t prove anything.” Zwerg’s curiosity got the best of him. Obtaining a sociology major, he often wondered if things would be the same if he and other white americans were America’s minority. Soon, Zwerg attended Fisk University, where he first met John Lewis demonstrating a non-violent protest at a white-only movie theater. He began attending workshops to become a better and more effective advocate in the Civil Rights movement that his school provided. "I didn't go down there thinking I'd be involved in the movement," Zwerg said. "I was more thinking how I was going to feel in the minority. I wanted to see how I would react." he says. Zwerg became immensely serious in the movement when the demonstrators asked if he wanted to know how it felt on the other side. He was sent with an African American advocate to go to the segregated movie theater. Once he opened the door for his friend, he was knocked out-cold with a monkey wrench by an unknown assailant. Then and there, he understood that being nonviolent is not a technique, it’s something you deeply believe in. Again and again, Zwerg would continue this action. No matter how many candies he was pelted with or how long he would get back in line and wait for hours, it was all worth it to him. Little hits here and there didn’t offend him, but racist insults did. Soon, he and his friend were accepted in. Both say it was “The best show they’ve ever seen!”.

May 4, 1961- The first Freedom Ride was under way.

The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a U.S. civil rights group, created an anti-racist bus ride as a way to end segregation. Thirteen riders ( Seven African Americans, six white), created a foundation to end segregation in the United States. Aboard the bus was John Lewis, famed politician and sixties survivor as well as his collegue, James Zwerg, who would comment “It was the right thing for me to do. I never second guessed it”, even though he expected not to live through it along with jail time and extreme violence. Soon to be Selma Marcher and Bloody Sunday survivor, Lewis began as a freedom rider with already five arrests on his record (he was nineteen years old at this time,) Little did he know that he would be named "One of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced” as well as a “Very honest and open man” by Zwerg. Both were members of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Comittee, a student-organized Civil Rights activist

group.

The rides on the Greyhound bus were unknown to the general public, but were still unwanted by the southerners. People shouted from their cars and where they stood, hoping the riders would stop their journey. Some of the riders were arrested for using “whites-only” restrooms and other segregated facilities. "You didn't know what you were going to encounter. You could be antagonized at any point in your journey. Most of the time it was very, very difficult to plan a trip." Stated Freedom Rider Charles Person, a college freshman who had taken part in civil-rights movements since he was in high school. Once they reached the Birmingham city limits, Zwerg and his other African American friend, Paul, were put in the back of a squad car. They were arrested because after ordering Paul to the back of the bus, he refused. When they told Zwerg to get up so they could remove his friend, he said he was “comfortable” where he was. Both were sent to Birmingham jail and spent a few days in their cells. Zwerg, being a very religious man, educated the astonished prisoners in his plans and read the bible to them to prove his points. The felons didn’t like what he was doing, but wished him the best of luck. Soon, both would be released with the bus waiting for them.

From Birmingham to Montgomery, the bus was escorted by airplanes as well as squad cars with machine guns in the back. The sight of so much force was frightening to the passengers. When the bus left Birmingham, everything went away and the riders were at ease, until they pulled up into the bus station. Each rider was beaten by angry rioters, hoping to end their journey quickly. Police did not arrive until twenty minutes had passed. Soon, they would find out that they were set up, and the police sergeant was in fact a member of the Ku Klux Klan and the people beating them were members as well. Zwerg was the only white rider at the time, so he was the one they really wanted. Zwerg says “ It was tradition.” He would pray to God that somehow all would be well. He even claims that he felt “a presence as close to me as breath itself, if you will, that gave me peace knowing that whatever came, it was okay.” The riot was broken up later that day and the riders fled Birmingham, taking an airplane under tight security with the rest of the Freedom Bus riders. That night, he called to his family. They hoped that he would stop and come back home, but their son refused. The people who raised and taught him to live with love and do what’s right rejected his belief completely and hung up the phone on him. It did hurt Zwerg, but it didn’t stop him from participating in the movement.

It was on May 4th in Rockhill, South Carolina (two weeks since the rides started) that the riders were violently attacked. Lewis and James Zwerg ( African American and Caucasian man who met each other attending Fisk University) were met with an angry mob. Zwerg and Lewis were the first to step off the bus and first to be beaten by the TV crews. Both were knocked unconcious with their own suitcases. Eventually, everyone wanted pieces of the riders. They were clubbed, chained, and beaten. No police officers were seen. After several horrifying minutes, the state director of public safety, Floyd Mann, dispersed the fighting by waving around a pistol. Their injuries were severe and Zwerg almost died. CORE debated whether or not to continue the rides. Lewis stated that the continuation would be suicide, but support from the young students and moral support of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (although students called him out for not physically participating in the Freedom Rides) continued the rides.

On September 22, 1961, The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) finally outlawed racial profiling on buses, removing all “whites-only” signs on every bus in America. Supporters began to grow bigger in numbers once the law was announced. Activists vowed to push even more for their rights, but not everyone likes the laws. Lewis left the Freedom Rides in Alabama to interview for a fellowship, leaving his friend Zwerg on the bus. Zwerg was the only white male among two white females and nine African Americans. Not long after, word of a bus being firebombed riled up the nation. No one was killed or seriously injured on the buses. After the series of violent attacks, James Farmer of CORE decided to end the campaign, meaning the end of the first of the Freedom Riders.

Diane Nash, a student activist argued ‘‘We can’t let them stop us with violence. If we do, the movement is dead.” Soon the campaign began again, adding many more Greyhound buses and many activists aboard them to end further segregation. Hundreds of college students, fully fledged adults, and elderly rode onto the southern roads.Those thirteen young riders became the foundation of a cause supported by millions and participated by thousands.

The events following the Freedom Rides changed John Lewis and Jim Zwerg forever. Lewis was the keynote speaker of the Selma March in 1965 as well as appointed by President Jimmy Carter to run the federal volunteer agency ACTION. He was soon bumped to Atlanta city council to Congressman in the 1980s. Lewis graduated with a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and Religion from Fisk University. He was awarded over fifty honorary degrees from various donors such as Harvard University, Princeton University, as well as many other colleges and universities. There were also other honors such as the Non-Violent Peace Prize, the Golden Plate Award from the Academy of Excellence, and the High Civility award bestowed upon him by President Barack Obama.

Zwerg was presented the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Freedom award by Dr.King himself. The next step in Zwerg’s life plan was to enroll in the Garrett Theological Seminary after talking with Martin Luther King. Zwerg is now a retired minister who occasionally takes action in charity events. He now lives with his wife in Tucson, Arizona.

Forty years ago, African Americans were unequal-equals amongst the American population. Thanks to various characters, such as John Lewis and James Zwerg, who immensely impacted our society, we are able to walk the streets as friends and neighbors as well as ride the bus where a “first come, first served” basis is established. There may still be some racial issues in the world as well as the United States, but at least the majority is getting along.

“I don't think we should forget what happened in the past, but I also don't think we should dwell on it. ‘You brought my ancestors here on slave ships, you owe me!’ No, we don't. You're owed an opportunity” ~James Zwerg

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