The Manual

For 60+ years John Lewis fought for, supported, resourced, and served BIPOC and disenfranchised groups in America. He did so with his platform, that of a US Congressman, and prior, as an ordinary civilian. Such continuity. Why is it that this same thing cannot be said about almost any other member of Congress? That among those elected to represent us as people, us Americans, us BIPOC human beings, there is not another John Lewis among them.

Its always heavy to hear that another civil rights figure has died, because I’m aware of how arduously they’re made, how uniquely they stand apart, and how rarely the earth can produce them. A person in power, so oriented to the well being of others, that their life becomes marked by service and sacrifice indefinitely. In light of this fact, it is quite troubling to know among our public servants and our elected officials, we are hard pressed to find as committed a heart.

His very existence and political manner is a critique on the bodies of governmental power, the culture of law making, and among his “peers” as a public representative. The “Conscience of Congress” they called him. Yet his declarations for social change, racial equity, LGBTQ rights, working people, the poor, and the sick, were often met with phrases such as “I hear you John, but” or “In a perfect world perhaps” and even “there are other things we have to do first”. But to John, if it was about justice for the people, what could possibly take priority over that? I can hear him saying, is it not unjust to deprive people of healthcare, schooling, labor, and fair law? If in fact it be a matter of justice, in our power to correct, and our duty to do so, then by doing nothing are we not the ones found unjust? For John, not even his own life was worthy of delaying the arrival of these rights.

So when they speak of him now, like they viewed him as an equal, as a treasured member, and an inspiration, this is simply posturing. If he was an inspiration then they too would abide in his work and his will. That of fighting to bring justice to those without, to bring freedom to those ensnared, and love to those hated. He was not their peer, his peers are the old gods of the civil rights era and he honors them by his commitment to Justice, Love, Peace, and Truth. John is the congress’s Father, their Miagi, their North star. He was the Jordan of their league. He showed them how they should be playing the game. As a legitimate servant, too busy at work against injustice, violence, and inequality to consider superfluous matters. Too busy fighting against the degradation of the voice and will of the American people in lieu of corporate interests, and the sequestering of justice in lieu of false peace and social order.

They should realize, that if the worlds archetypes really are that of wolves, sheep, and sheep dogs. Then one of hardest sheepdogs ever to roam this land, one of our valiant and vigilant protectors has died. The wolves lick their chops now, and it’ll be upon us to be heady and unmoved in our efforts to keep one another safe and treated justly, because Im not confident the wolves will not. I do know though, that if his “peers” even beg the question, as to whether they should change, whether they should serve, whether they should fight for us BIPOC people, they’d know what to do… John would. -J.Lewis


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Meet Lester Lewis, my father. He is pictured here with my granny who is in her late 90’s.

I wanted to get his perspective not only as someone who grew up in one of the hardest cities to grow up in America, but how growing up within an entirely Black community shaped him and his view of race. Steeped in a very traditional and culturally southern upbringing my father has always been a man about respect and integrity. He was a US Naval Corpsman, database administrator, and cyclist. A man who is simple in the best sense of the word. He would just assume be kind to you, assume the best of you, and go out of his way for you. Perpetually silly, crazy sharp minded, and tremendously sensitive. I like to think I share some resemblance.

It’s been hard to watch how this season has worked on my father, as it has broken open some old wounds, and brought to the surface some cyclical fears for him. I’m so grateful he came to share his story in such a humble and warm way. Video is up now, I hope you listen and share it.





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