Earlier this week, I spoke with Professor David Greenberg about his new biography, John Lewis: A Life. I was curious about lesser-known sides of the iconic activist, whose steadfast commitment to nonviolence was both admired and critiqued during the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis “wasn’t without his flaws,” Professor Greenberg told me, but he grew into “a reminder that America had been through worse and not only survived but improved.” I’ll be drawing on that lesson more than ever in the months and years ahead—that is, as you’ll see, when I’m not politely vandalizing right-wing politicians’ cars.
David Greenberg is a professor of history, journalism, and media studies at Rutgers. He writes regularly for Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Drawing on John Lewis’ Example