The Daily Show: Ears Edition - John Lewis on "March" and Getting Into Righteous Trouble to Fight Injustice

Episode Date: July 19, 2021

From 2016, Representative John Lewis weighs in on the Black Lives Matter movement and discusses his experience at Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in "March: Book Three." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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knew Martin Luther King Jr. You were out there marching. When you see Black Lives Matter what are the things that you commend and I guess then after we'll talk about what are the thingaken part in the black life matter movement. Read in March. We had a young lady in Louisiana who read the book and she emerged as one of the leaders there. She marched. She got arrested and went to jail. But when the police officer murdered, when the young man was murdered, she had a visual for the young black man and for the police officers. March is a blueprint. It is a roadmap. It's for now. It is for the future. We are saying to the young people of America and the young people of the world.

You know, in London, there is a unbelievable movement growing there of black life mattered. It's spreading all across America. And I think Juan Luther King, Jr. would be very proud to see young African-American, young white American, young Latinos and Asian-American and Native American coming together to send no to racism, no to hate, that we must disarm hate and create what he called the beloved community, and redeem the soul of America.

And in doing so, maybe we can help redeem the soul of the world and save this to the planet. For people who are fundamentally opposed to Black Lives Matter, people who say the movement itself inspires hate. You know, why are things being broken? Why are there marches where people are burning things down? You, you were a founder of the SNCC, which was a student council that was specifically designed around nonviolence. That was an important distinction that you had to make. I've always been fascinated as to why you made that distinction.

Well, we studied. We prepared ourselves. We started the life in teaching of Gandhi. We studied through civil disobedience. We studied. We prepared ourselves. We studied the life and teaching of Gandhi. We studied through insular disobedience. We studied about what was happening in South Africa. We heard about Mandela, Abilatula, and others. And we accepted the way of non-violence as a way of life, as a way of living. You know, during the 60s, I was arrested 40 times and since I've been in Congress another five times and I'm probably going to get arrested again for something else. But you have to be

prepared to say you may beat me, you may arrest me and throw me in jail. I almost died on that bridge for the right to vote. I gave a little blood but other people gave their lives th thiiiiiii thi that that that that thi that thi that thi thi that to to thi. that to to thi. that thoome. thi. thoome. thoes thoes tho-I tho-I that thi. that tho-I tho-I tho-I tho-I tho-I thi. And since thi. And since thi. And thi. And thi. And thi. And thi. And thi. And that thi. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. And I's thia thia'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'the right to vote. I gave a little blood, but other people gave their lives. When you say that, there are some people in the community who say, I'm tired of giving my blood. I'm tired of having our blood spilt. And then there are a few who say, I'm going to act against those who spill the blood. How do you speak to those people who have a lot of pain, who have a lot of anger, who have a lot of fear?

How do you, how do you speak to them then? We must not be afraid. We must be hopeful. We must be optimistic. We must never hate, as Dr. King would say, hate is too heavy a burden to bad. You know, we cannot create a society that peace with itself, with us hating each other, putting each other down. In March, book one, book two, and now book three, tell the story.

Another generation of young people. I remember so well the first time I got arrested and went to jail. I'm 20 years old and I wanted to look good. We heard we were making get arrested and go to jail. I wanted a new suit. I had very little money. So I went to a youth men store in downtown Nashville and bought a suit with a vest. I paid five dollars for this suit and

I look really sharp in that suit. I really look clean and fresh and if I had that suit today I probably could sell it on eBay for a lot of money. The the movement has changed the world changes. You were there I mean part of what you were marching for is what resulted in the has changed, the world changes, you were there, I mean, part of what you were marching for is what resulted in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 coming to fruition. Was there a part of you that thought you had done your job? You're like, this is it. Racism is done. No, never. It's an ongoing struggle. Our struggle, it's not a struggle that lasts for a few days, a few weeks, a few months,

or a few years. It is a struggle of a lifetime, maybe many lifetime, but you must give it all. And that's why our book, March, is saying that we must continue to move our feet, continue to push and pull, not just to make America better, just to make America better but to make our planet a little better. There are people who say America is great. America no longer has problems with racism. America is done. There are people who are working against the Voter Rights Act saying that it's no longer 65. There are no more dogs and fire hoses.

These rules do not need to be in place anymore. Why do you still need these laws? No, I would disagree. American is great, and we can make America greater, but we still have problems. When you have states, whether it's North Carolina, Texas, or some other places, trying to make it harder and more difficult, that's why the courts a few days ago acted, they want to take us back, but we come too far, made too much progress to go back.

I've said over and over again that the vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It's the most powerful, nonviolent instrument or tool that we have in a democratic society. We should make it easier and simple for everybody to participate. Powerful words. Thank you, sir. Thank you. I don't recommend this book enough. It is fascinating. It is a novel that takes you through a beautiful story. It's a biography. It is a comic book. It is a graphic illustration.

It is everything in one. March, Book 3 is available now. Congressman John Lewis, everyone. to the Daily Show on YouTube for exclusive content and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. You may be tempted to skip this ad but don't. Marketers want their audience to stick around and with Paramount Ads Manager you can advertise your business on the biggest shows on TV for 30 unskippable seconds. Run your ads in premium content on Paramount Plus and over 15 major networks with hit shows,

movies, sports and more, all on the biggest screen in the house. Put your business and show business with Paramount Ad's Manager. Go to Ad's Manager. Paramount.com. That's ADS Manager. Paramount.com to learn more. Do nice guys really finish last. I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new mini-series on the Art of Fairness.

From New York to Tahiti will examine villains undone by their villainy. Monstrous, self-devaring egos and accounts of the extraordinary power of decency. Listen on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This has been a Comedy Central Podcast.