Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.65 AVERAGE
4.65 AVERAGE
I feel like graphic novels are a very powerful medium to talk about serious, political topics such as the Civil Rights Movement in America. It is especially effective as it is juxtaposed with Obama’s inauguration in 2008. The side by side comparison really brings the issues to light - comparing the past with the much more recent past. The interludes of recent history really work, giving the reader the ability to pause and reflect on how far the movement has really come in America.
Reading this series is just a continuous reminder of how far we've come, but also how far we still have to go.
I stand by affirmation that every single person should read these graphic novels. They are important.
I stand by affirmation that every single person should read these graphic novels. They are important.
5 stars
This feels like an even more important read than usual, since certain President Elects who shall remain nameless are trying to downplay and dismiss the sacrifices people like John Lewis made for the Civil Rights movement. I learned a lot in Book Two. For example, I'd heard the name Bayard Rustin before but didn't know anything about him. I also didn't realize how much disagreement there was within the movement (like between Stokely Carmichael and the original members of the SNCC). I found the changes that others encouraged Lewis to make to his speech at the March on Washington very interesting. Most of all I was just astounded by the onslaught of injustice Lewis and his comrades faced at every turn, in every city. Particularly harrowing was the moment when a father was encouraging his young son to beat the Freedom Riders. Racism really is generational, and is still a problem for that very reason (some of the people who beat John Lewis are still alive, spreading their hate, as he commented recently). Now, contrast that white child who was attacking the Freedom Riders with the black children who went to protest and were faced with dog and hoses.
Hoping to pick up Book Three soon!
This feels like an even more important read than usual, since certain President Elects who shall remain nameless are trying to downplay and dismiss the sacrifices people like John Lewis made for the Civil Rights movement. I learned a lot in Book Two. For example, I'd heard the name Bayard Rustin before but didn't know anything about him. I also didn't realize how much disagreement there was within the movement (like between Stokely Carmichael and the original members of the SNCC). I found the changes that others encouraged Lewis to make to his speech at the March on Washington very interesting. Most of all I was just astounded by the onslaught of injustice Lewis and his comrades faced at every turn, in every city. Particularly harrowing was the moment when a father was encouraging his young son to beat the Freedom Riders. Racism really is generational, and is still a problem for that very reason (some of the people who beat John Lewis are still alive, spreading their hate, as he commented recently). Now, contrast that white child who was attacking the Freedom Riders with the black children who went to protest and were faced with dog and hoses.
Hoping to pick up Book Three soon!
A fantastic continuation of John Lewis's memoir told in graphic novel form--with beautiful, moving black-and-white illustrations and an excellent text. Like Book One, it is told in a series of flashbacks as John Lewis attends President Obama's inauguration in January 2009. It begins in Nashville in November 1960 with the extension of the lunch counter sit ins to restaurants. focuses extensively on the freedom rides, the events in Birmingham, the March on Washington, and ends powerfully with Martin Luther King's I have a dream giving way to President Obama's first inaugural to the the September 1963 bombing of the baptist church in Birmingham. All of this is told through the eyes of Lewis as he rises to Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), goes to Washington and New York for the first time, and attends a meeting of civil rights leaders with President Kennedy.
Book Two is even better than Book One, considerably darker and more brutal--as Lewis moves from Nashville further south and the book depicts the massive scale of violence and hard jail time brought to bear in an attempt to suppress the civil rights movement. It also presents an interesting and complex portrait of struggles within the movement, including debates over nonviolence, multi-racialism, and less respectful newcomers to the movement, in addition to tactical debates like whether to March on Washington, focus on civil rights or voting rights, and support Federal legislation or local action. Lewis also gives an honest portrait of his own debates and struggles over how to speak at the March on Washington and the degree to which he needed to conform and make his arguments more palatable vs. stay true to SNCC.
Overall March Book Two is a moving work of art and an excellent history, I only hope we do not need to wait another year for Book Three.
Book Two is even better than Book One, considerably darker and more brutal--as Lewis moves from Nashville further south and the book depicts the massive scale of violence and hard jail time brought to bear in an attempt to suppress the civil rights movement. It also presents an interesting and complex portrait of struggles within the movement, including debates over nonviolence, multi-racialism, and less respectful newcomers to the movement, in addition to tactical debates like whether to March on Washington, focus on civil rights or voting rights, and support Federal legislation or local action. Lewis also gives an honest portrait of his own debates and struggles over how to speak at the March on Washington and the degree to which he needed to conform and make his arguments more palatable vs. stay true to SNCC.
Overall March Book Two is a moving work of art and an excellent history, I only hope we do not need to wait another year for Book Three.
Review of full series on March: Book Three: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4293294823?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Great continuation of this autobiography and the civil rights movement. I’d recommend this book to anyone.
This series is remarkable. It's devastating in its history; beautifully drawn and deftly told. It should be required reading. If you're looking to draw someone into the history of the civil rights movement, this is where you should start!
I really love this series because it is so informative. I love the artwork and learning about so many historical figures that I either vaguely heard of or never heard of them. I love to hear John's stories. It's sad that so many of this is happening again.
I loved all three volumes, although this, the second volume, was my least favorite. Again, I thought that the art across the whole series was excellent, massive kudos to Nate Powell. All three books are excellent, and it's tough to imagine reading only one and stopping, but it's even harder to imagine this one standing alone; reading the other two volumes, and all in order, is essential. Still, highly recommended.
