I never heard his name spoken while I was in school. [View all]

Literally, he existed only as a printed entity - easily ignored - until I was almost 30 years old, and was required to attend a Social Actions Racial awareness brief.

Shit that sounds exactly as aweful as it really was. Our education system has always been a tool in the hands of racists...

Sorry, I got a bit carried away - this post is about Rep Lewis.

John Lewis outlived the active attempts of his local, state and federal government law enforcement to erase him.

He out lived the news blackouts that Civil Rights advocates labored beneath for decades, and became more than just "famous" he became a long serving member of The House.

He became an Icon.

John Lewis will forever be an example of "American Exceptionalism" - in the only way that that concept is admirable.