The son of an Alabama sharecropper, John Lewis experienced the injustice of segregation early in life. Inspired to action by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis joined with civil rights leaders who believed in fighting segregation peacefully. From Nashville, Tennessee, to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, Lewis was in the forefront of the major civil rights protests of the 1960s. In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and a devotion to nonviolence, helping southern black people gain the right to vote. Lewis continued his commitment to human rights from his home base in the South straight to the nation's capital. In 1986 Lewis was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Congress, where he continues to serve today. John Lewis in the Lead celebrates the life of a living legend of American history. Lewis's passionate belief in justice is a beacon for all who wish to make our country a better place.