Lewis, John and D'Orso, Michael. Walking with the Wind, Simon & Schuster: New York, 1998.

Book Reviewed by: Mary Kneefel

Walking with the Wind, A Memoir of the Movement, by John Lewis with Michael D’Orso gave a unique account of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Lewis’s own stories and charismatic nature, made this autobiography worth reading. His story is presented from many angles that are often overlooked to someone unaware about the civil rights movement. The message in the conclusion can clearly been seen. He makes no wild claims or statements, and gives an accurate account. He shares a lot a personal information that transforms the book, and enables the reader to empathize with him.

Although the book did not truly seem to start until the second half, once he became immersed in the civil rights movement, it was necessary to see his life as a child, and how he lived with his parents in Alabama. No one can deny Lewis’ passion, however, he presented it in an almost neutral sense that does not deter the reader. Stories of lining chickens up and preaching to them, gives great insight as to his character at an early age. His earliest experiences, which motivated him to pursue activist work, built up into the climax, his march from Selma to Montgomery. Prior to this point, he covered Diane Nash’s desire to do the “march on Alabama”, and the 16^th street bombing. There however are random spots in the text where he first mentions his attractive friend Julian, and how he was his wife wanted him to spend time with Lewis so he could not cheat on her. Then it proceeds to talk about how soul music was being introduced. Two paragraphs later he began recalling some previous relationships, before he had gotten married. Immediately after it seemed he went right into talking about the mock elections, and their turnouts.

It is obvious as too how he needed to include his journey to Africa, but it seemed to take a lot of text until he mentioned why it was so important. He says it was to make a global issue, rather than just in the States. But it did not say how he changed the protest in anyway. Also it seemed a little strange, how he chose to incorporate Malcolm X into the book. The book never really discussed how he felt about him, or why he was so different. I know from previous knowledge, what a radical he was, but he seemed to support the their movement as well.

However, to Lewis’ credit, he explained the behind the scenes aspects of activism well. For example, it was very helpful that he also referred to each worker, and which group they associated with, i.e…SNCC, or SCLC. Prior to reading this book, I naively grouped all civil rights workers into one large category. It was interesting to learn about other big players in civil rights, other than Martin Luther King Jr., and how each group seemed to have slightly different goals.

I was moved in Lewis march from Selma. I could sense his feeling of abandonment when the SNCC would not march alongside him. He used words well to produce vivid images, describing the smugness of the police, Sheriff Clark in particular, and the injuries the protestors endured. Even little details about how tear gas was, and how he burned their eyes, and they had to vomit for hours. I admire his strength in not giving up on his goals, even after enduring such a hard hit. I believe he expressed his emotions appropriately, in his tone throughout these chapters as well. I seemed to have felt some joy as he mentions that ABC network made a special bulletin showing the images, and videos of the march. The shock the audience experienced helped their organization in a powerful way. I could not help but to feel happy for him, even though this happened almost 50 years ago.

In addition for how the different black people viewed different things, he incorporated whites as well. He discussed the self-esteem issue many African-Americans felt, when white volunteers would throw themselves into the work. Also he mentioned the resentment of people from both races, when couples would marry interracially. It was even surprising to me to learn how the Klansmen attacked and killed white people who were present at some of the rallies. He countered the helpful white individuals to the racist KKK members, and would account for statistics on their actions. This greatly helped shaped the idea that the movement was a complex ordeal that requires both races to coexist and support one another.

In the closing chapter he goes over the flaws of the movement. He reiterates the problem of society is not the people of that society, but its system. He never once insults white people, even after cruel beatings. He is clear, that it would be a racist movement without whites’ involvement. He eludes that this is still an ongoing problem and that it can only be fixed if everyone chooses to recognize that society must unite. To be one means to reach everyone’s potential in all areas of live, and support each other.

It seems a little strange that a civil rights activist did not choose to write a book about the cruelty he endured, but wanted to expose the flaws in his own system. To show the hardships people had to work though, and that it was not simply completed after the Voting Law was passed in 1965. He gives advice how to even improve our society at this point. The mere fact that he is so loving and lacks resentment is the true testament for what he spent his life working for, and continues to work. The book is quite long, but delivers an important message, and is worth the time to read.