"I loved going to the library. It was the first time I ever saw Black newspapers and magazines like JET, Ebony, the Baltimore Afro-American, or the Chicago Defender. And I'll never forget my librarian."
Lewis' relationship to identity is largely shaped by individual interactions with influencers at a young age. These aren't influencers like contemporary artists or YouTube stars; they are teachers, relatives, and social activists like Dr. King. Lewis is profoundly impacted by his time at the library because he sees representation of people who like him doing important things. Suddenly his horizons expanded to include a whole world of opportunities.
"Fury spends itself pretty quickly when there's no fury facing it."
This is the power of nonviolent protest. Through organized movements, like those sponsored by the SNCC under Lewis' leadership, the Civil Rights Movement becomes irresistible. These people are immune to the hatred being directed at them because hatred has always existed. They find power in organization and in self-control which has a diffusing effect on the opposition.
"By the force of our demands, our determination and our numbers, we shall splinter the segregated South into a thousand pieces and put them back together in the image of God and democracy."
Lewis possesses vision, even in his youth. He is a true believe of democracy, so he willingly accepts leadership positions as an activist for integration and equality. He believes because he understands the reasonable legitimacy of the cause.
"We are involved now in a serious revolution. This nation is still a place of cheap political leaders who build their careers on immoral compromises and ally themselves with open forms of political, economic and social exploitation. What political leader here can stand up and say, 'My party is the party of principles?'"
In this quotation, Lewis raises a telling truth about the American political system. He understands that the system is corrupt, but he sees corruption on all sides. He urges followers not to draw boundaries along political party lines because they don't help resolve the situation. He's asking people to look far beyond those boundaries to the people themselves, to engage in a revolution of people not parties.
