Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day
The election of Barrack Obama is a significant milestone that Lewis highlights before delving into the history of the civil rights movement. The graphic novel introduces the story in a scene where Congressman John Lewis prepares for Barack Obama's Inauguration Day. The event symbolizes the leap that has been made since the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century. It signifies the efforts and sacrifices made by civil rights leaders and protesters such as John Lewis towards a better future for black people.
Chickens
The graphic novel delves into the author’s childhood, specifically his chores that involved taking care of chickens. Unlike his parents, Lewis had a personal attachment to the chickens thereupon he named, spoke, preached, and even baptized them. He practiced his dream of becoming a preacher by humanizing the chickens as his flock. Though the birds were a source of sustenance for the family, Lewis was constantly devastated that they were not treated the same way he did. Arguably, the chickens symbolize the racial dynamic in American society and the way they are handled as the attitude towards segregation and systemic racism.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge
The image of the bridge is historically attached to the Selma to Montgomery marches as the site of the Bloody Sunday. This book highlights this march on March 7, 1965, of which John Lewis alongside other civil rights activists faced the troopers in the protest. The outcome of the confrontation galvanized public opinion on voting rights marking it as a significant moment in the civil rights protests. The protest and the ensuing attack symbolize the overdue liberties that black people ought to have been granted though hindered by systemic racism. Thus, The Edmund Pettus Bridge symbolizes the need for change and the path towards more changes with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Canon House Office Building
The present setting is in this building where Lewis tells stories about his childhood and the civil rights movement. The main aim of the civil rights protests was to push for legislative changes that would give civil liberties to black people. As a Congressman, Lewis is part of the legislative system years after the protests in the 1950s and 1960s. Therefore, the Canon House Office Building where his offices are found symbolizes the legislation journey that has been taken thus far and which still continues.
Social Gospel
From a young age, Lewis found inspiration from Biblical scriptures and addressed the injustices against black people in his sermons. As one of the key figures in the movement, he utilized social gospel to mobilize the masses towards peaceful protests. The approach applies Christian principles to address social problems and in this case the racial inequality and injustices. Throughout the book, the protests and marches showcase the biblical principles that become the core values of the movement.