What qualities do you see emerging in the young John Lewis that you feel will serve him well as a civil rights leader? Write a paragraph or so identifying an important personal quality that you see emerging in Lewis from specific experiences that he tells about in the first three chapters of Walking with the Wind.
Look over earlier posts, and try to add something new to the discussion. Either pick a different personal trait, focus on different experiences, or give new interpretations.
John Lewis admits to being a very stubborn child. I believe this trait will help him stick to his choice to be in the Civil Rights Movement. When talking about how he would skip work in the fields to go to school, Lewis writes, "But deep inside I think [Dad] knew there was no stopping me, that this was a decision I had made about my life and once I made a decision, it was just about impossible to turn me away from it" (41-42). He goes on to explain that this trait is something he would carry with him the rest of his life. I believe this is a big reason why he didn't give up on the movement even when things got tough. Because he was so stubborn in his ways, he wouldn't quit till he got what he wanted.
ReplyDelete~Rebecca
I think an important trait seen in John, in the first two chapters of the book is that he seems to be very dedicated and passionate. Both of these qualities are good because obviously he will have to be dedicated to what he believes should be allowed for blacks. I think the fact that he takes such good care of the chickens also shows his dedication becuase they are just chickens. Also the fact that he burries the chickens shows he is passionate. John will have to use both of these traits i think later on in the book to make a diffrence.
ReplyDeleteClaire
From an early age, John Lewis demonstrated compassion. He was in tune with the emotional and spiritual well-being of those around him. When he started caring for his family's chickens, he put his whole self into taking care of the chickens. Instead of just treating his job as a routine chore, Lewis held a sense of duty and responsibility in raising the chickens. He would speak softly to them "until finally the shed was as silent as a sanctuary" and described the feeling as "very spiritual, almost religious" and swore that the chickens felt it too. He even took the time to name and know his chickens and mourn their deaths. His actions towards and empathy for the chickens seem to foreshadow his future role in the Civil Rights movement as a caring, compassionate, and inspirational leader.
ReplyDelete-Emilee
As we've all noticed, John is very compassionate towards his chickens. His care for his chickens relates to his care for people. John admits that he has never felt hatred for anyone before in his life. It takes a lot of courage not to feel hatred for anyone, especially in the time period that he grew up in. Although he notices that white people tend to think that they are superior to blacks, he "refuses to believe that all white people [act or feel] the way the ones [do that he] read[s] about. This trait that he carries puts emphasis on the "non-violence" protests that occur later in his life. Through John's way of thinking and acting, he displays greats amount of forgiveness, love, courage, and determination that will help him in his fight for civil rights.
ReplyDelete-Rebecca G.
Also adding to the chicken story, I saw a very interesting trait about John Lewis in this story that stuck out to me. I noticed that when Lewis was taking care of his family's chickens, he points out that no one else in his family was very attached to these chickens especially since they were raised for the dinner table. He claims, "To my parents and brothers and sisters, the chickens were just about the lowest form of life on the farm." But, what catches my eye is that even though no one else gave the chickens any extra thought, Lewis treated them as if they were his own children, as if they were human. He cared for them, talked to them, and knew each one by a special name, by face and by personality. He treated them EQUAL. As you can see, the story of these chickens has a huge connection with the segregation between blacks and whites. This quality shows that he was bound to be a leader for this movement before he was even old enough to work out on the farm. He was able to care for and help the chickens even though they didn't do anything for him. I think he was born to be a leader.
ReplyDeleteI think John Lewis' strong sense of determination helped him achieve his goals of becoming a preacher and making a difference for future generations. Early in his childhood, he made up his mind about having a better life by becoming a minister, and he pursued his ambition in every way that he could. He didn't simply accept his situation, but rather he sought out every opportunity to better himself in the hopes that one day, he could better his community. Although he had other responsibilities at home, he managed to keep up in school--despite missing countless days of class. With little outside motivation, Lewis' own determination was the driving force behind the things he's accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, John Lewis never restrained himself from voicing his opinion, no matter of the circumstance. While working in the fields, he would complain of the entire sharecropping system, while everyone else just seemed to blindly put up with it, not believing there was any other options. He even called their lifestyle "gambling" because their income was a bet, not certain. He persisted until others became annoyed and tried to give in by offering to do his duties, but that is not what he was after. He wanted a change and won't be satisfied until he gets it.
ReplyDelete-Ricky
Throughout the first three chapters, John Lewis proved he was born with patience and determination. In his story about the chickens, Lewis exhibits these features by spending all day devoted to feeding the animals and keeping track of his system of egg production. Most would find something like this boring or disgusting, seeing that the chickens were considered the lowliest of farm animals, but Lewis was determined to care for them. Again in chapter three he proves these qualities with his desire for education. Lewis even writes “when I care about something, when I commit to it, I am prepared to take the long, hard road, knowing it may not happen today or tomorrow, but ultimately, eventually, it will happen” (42). This quote sums up his entire work in the movement. His determination to end the abuse towards the black community was something he committed too and eventually did make it happen.
ReplyDelete-Gina
I believe John Lewis shows many characteristics of a good, caring, non-violent leader as a child.He gives sermons to the chickens which shows he doesn't care about the importance of one person more than another. It shows he cares about the most insignificant things in the world. His love for school makes him a smart kid, and in turn shows how dedicated he is by not working and sneaking to school. The next traight seen is when he gets back from his trip with his uncle. He begins to realize that the sociaty he lives in is corrupt and needs to change. The fact he didn't follow what his parents said shows he can fight against things he doesnt believe in even when society or a stronger power tells him its right
ReplyDeleteIn Walking With the Wind, John Lewis shows many characteristics. The main one that I think is important is that he is very passionate. For example, the way he cared for his chickens really stood out to me because they are only chickens, yet he still cared for them in a passionate mannor. That shows a lot about his character by the fact that he really cares about something so small. He uses the same qualities later on when he gets really involved with the civil rights movement.
ReplyDeleteIn John Lewis's "Walking With the Wind", he will be a good civil rights leader for many ways. John Lewis leads by example not only by his actions, but his words. He follows leaders such as MLK. Lewis has the right personality and right morality and ethics to be a good leader. He cares for people, and he does judge people of any race or gender. He wants blakcs to have all the same opportunities. He wants the blacks in the future to have more an opportunity to be free. He encourages blacks to fight and not give up. Also, he has the right determination and drive to want better not only for himself but as well as blacks. He wants blacks to have freedom to say what they want, and to do what they want.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I think John developed a great passion for the things he does. As a child he was forced to help support his family through thick and thin along with his other brothers and sisters. His passion starts to grow from a young age. A great example was his experience with the chickens. He was a young boy but he connected with each and every chicken on a personal level. This characteristic would serve him well as a civil rights leader. His passion would drive his determination, and would give him the courage to voice his opinion. As well he would bring the community together because he could relate and connect with each person on a personal level.
ReplyDeleteGrowing into a young man, was easy for John because of the traits he had within. To support the members of his family, to show others not to just speak of being a great and effective man but to actually do what it takes. Not backing down when his life became rough, and his personal relationship with his chickens individually could be turned into a vocal point in his leadership in civil right
ReplyDeleteTylan Martin