Life as a house: Video of Rep. Lewis talking about his aunt's shotgun house and bringing America together | Not in Our Town

Life as a house: Video of Rep. Lewis talking about his aunt's shotgun house and bringing America together

From our educational partners at Facing History and Ourselves comes this video of Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a man called "one of the most courageous persons the civil rights movement ever produced." Rep. Lewis was among the Freedom Riders and later chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee that challenged segregation in the South. He wrote the foreword to Facing History's study guide for the documentary, Eyes on the Prize

During Black History Month, we will be sharing a number of resources that touch upon the continued struggle and incredible inspiration that stems from African-American history. This video, in particular, captures the importance of coming together as a nation. As Rep. Lewis says: 

"We must build one house, we must build one family. We must build a house that's strong enough for all of us as we face history, as we face ourselves. Walk with the wind, let the spirit of history be our guide."

This video is part of Facing History's "Choosing to Participate" sequence, which focuses on how understanding the past can connect with the issues of today. Several Not In our Town stories are also part of this sequence. 

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