Boyhood: Part One of John Lewis Series
The John Lewis Series is a collection of pieces created by artist and activist Benny Andrews chronicling the early life of John Lewis before he became Congressman. Part one of the series follows the boyhood of John Lewis.
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Artwork by Benny Andrews
Boyhood
John Lewis was born to sharecroppers outside of Troy, Alabama in 1940. One of nine children, he was assigned the task of managing chicken coops from an early age.
John Lewis was born to sharecroppers outside of Troy, Alabama in 1940.
Field Workers (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
John Lewis was born to sharecroppers outside of Troy, Alabama in 1940.
Children Playing (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
One of nine children, he was assigned the task of managing chicken coops from an early age.
Feeding The Chickens (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Preaching to the chickens
Young John dreamed of being a preacher and practiced delivering sermons to the farm’s chickens. These were his first rehearsals for what would become a career punctuated by stirring speeches and calls to action
Segregation (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
As a child, he experienced the discrimination and segregation of Jim Crow, including attending segregated schools and being denied a public library card due to his race. Unable to check out books, the enthusiastic learner spent hours reading inside.
Coming Storm (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
“My parents told me in the very beginning as a young child when I raised the question about segregation and racial discrimination, they told me not to get in the way, not to get in trouble, not to make any noise.”
John Lewis
Weathering The Storm (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Due to safety concerns, his parents discouraged direct action against racial inequality.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaking (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
But teenage John Lewis was inspired by news of the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and the defiant courage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Sermon (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
John Lewis listens to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak.
John Lewis with M.L. King (John Lewis Series) (2005) by Benny AndrewsThe National Center for Civil and Human Rights
John Lewis meets Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I was so inspired by Dr. King that in 1956 with my brothers and sisters and first cousins, I was only 16 years old, we went down to the public library trying to check out some books and we were told by the librarian that the library was for whites only and not for colors! It was a public library! I never went back to that public library until July 5th, 1998, by this time I'm in the Congress, for a book signing of my book "Walking with the Wind"”
John Lewis
"Take a long, hard look down the road you will have to travel once you have made a commitment to work for change. Know that this transformation will not happen right away. Change often takes time. It rarely happens all at once. In the movement, we didn't know how history would play itself out. When we were getting arrested and waiting in jail or standing in unmovable lines on the courthouse steps, we didn’t know what would happen, but we knew it had to happen."
— John Lewis
About the artist: Benny Andrews (b. 1930, d. 2006) was a celebrated African American painter, printmaker, and collage artist. Born to sharecroppers in Plainview, Georgia, he went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before finding success in New York City. His narrative works documented social and political themes of the times, including depictions of the American Civil Rights movement, anti-war protests, personal and familial narratives, and the relocation of American Indians. He later illustrated children’s books about the lives of prominent figures in Black history including his friend Congressman John Lewis. The John Lewis Series was one of his final bodies of work.
“For Benny, there was no line where his activism ended, and his art began. To him, using his brush and his pen to capture the essence and spirit of his time was as much an act of protest as sitting-in or sitting-down was for me.” – John Lewis
Digital Story Curators - Sam Landis & Lauren Tate Baeza
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