Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Special Event: Monday, November 27, 7:00 pm at Hill Auditorium (825 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109). 

John Lewis is a civil rights leader and an American politician, serving Georgia’s 5^th district since 1987. A member of the Democratic party leadership, Lewis has served as Senior Chief Deputy Whip since 2003. Born the son of Alabama sharecroppers, Lewis’s childhood was filled with deeply inspirational moments, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. heard on radio broadcasts. As a college student, Lewis’s inspiration fueled his commitment to end legalized racial segregation; he was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was one of the ​“Big Six” leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won Lewis the admiration of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress. Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls ​“The Beloved Community” in America. Lewis co-wrote his story with his then-Congressional Aid, now Digital Director and Policy Advisor, Andrew Aydin, in the form of the graphic novel trilogy, MARCH (2013). The collaborative work is illustrated by New York Times best-selling graphic novelist Nate Powell.

This Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series event is co-presented with the Conflict and Peace Initiative at the University of Michigan’s International Institute, the King-Chavez-Parks Visiting Professors Program, and Detroit Public Television (DPTV).

With additional support from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Department of Political Science; Institute for the Humanities; National Center for Institutional Diversity; Office of Community-Engaged Academic Learning; Rackham Graduate School; and Office of Research.