John Lewis

John Lewis was a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a U.S. congressman who served Georgia's 5th district for over three decades. Born in 1940 in rural Alabama, he became one of the original Freedom Riders and was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, he helped organize voter registration drives and peaceful protests despite facing brutal violence. His acclaimed graphic memoir trilogy, "March," co-authored with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, won numerous awards including the National Book Award, introducing his extraordinary legacy to new generations.