March (comics)

March (comics)
source
Name	March
Caption	Cover of March: Book One
Author	John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
Illustrator	Nate Powell
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Graphic novel, Memoir, History
Publisher	Top Shelf Productions
Pub date	2013–2016
Media type	Print (hardcover & paperback)
Isbn	978-1-60309-300-2 (Book One)
Awards	National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Book Award

March (comics). March is a graphic novel trilogy and memoir co-authored by U.S. Congressman John Lewis and his aide Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell. The series chronicles Lewis's firsthand experiences as a key leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, from his youth in rural Alabama to the historic 1963 March on Washington. It serves as a powerful testament to the principles of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, framed through the lens of Lewis's participation in pivotal events like the Selma marches and the SNCC.

● Publication History and Format

The March trilogy was published by Top Shelf Productions between 2013 and 2016. The project was conceived by Andrew Aydin, who was inspired by the 1958 comic book about Martin Luther King Jr. and encouraged Congressman John Lewis to tell his story in the same accessible format. Nate Powell, an acclaimed cartoonist known for works like Swallow Me Whole, was brought on as the illustrator. The three volumes, March: Book One, March: Book Two, and March: Book Three, were released sequentially, with the final volume coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Selma marches. The series is presented in a traditional comic book format but is widely regarded and marketed as a graphic novel, blending sequential art with historical narrative.

● Content and Narrative Structure

The narrative of March is framed by the 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama, where an elderly John Lewis recounts his life story to a young visitor. The story then flashes back to Lewis's childhood on his family's farm in Troy, Alabama, his early exposure to segregation, and his awakening to the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. via radio broadcasts. The books meticulously detail his involvement with the Nashville Student Movement, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, and the Bloody Sunday confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The narrative structure effectively juxtaposes the personal, often perilous, journey of Lewis with the broader strategic campaigns of the SNCC and the SCLC.

● Historical Context and Depiction of

the Civil Rights Movement March provides an unflinching, ground-level view of the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. It accurately portrays the philosophy and discipline of nonviolent resistance as practiced by activists, while also depicting the severe violence they faced from mobs and law enforcement, such as the Albany Police and Sheriff Jim Clark in Selma. Key historical events are central to the plot, including the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins, the Birmingham Children's Crusade, and the Freedom Summer project. The comic highlights the internal debates within the movement, such as tensions between the SNCC and the SCLC over tactics and the rise of the Black Power movement. Figures like Diane Nash, James Lawson, and Fannie Lou Hamer are prominently featured.

● Critical Reception and Awards

The March trilogy received widespread critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling, historical accuracy, and powerful artwork. It won numerous prestigious awards, most notably the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for March: Book Three in 2016, marking the first time a graphic novel had received this honor. The series also earned the Coretta Scott King Book Award, the RFK Book Award, and several Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Reviewers from publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post praised it as an essential work for understanding American history. The trilogy's success helped elevate the graphic novel medium as a serious vehicle for historical and biographical narrative.

● Educational Use and Cultural Impact

March has been widely adopted as an educational tool in middle school, high school, and university curricula across the United States. Its accessible format engages students with complex historical themes of civil rights, social justice, and civic engagement. The Congressman John Lewis and the publishers have supported initiatives like the March Project, which provides resources and lesson plans for teachers. The book is frequently used in conjunction with the study of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the United States Civil Rights Movement. The book|American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Act of 1965. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights Movement. The American Civil Rights. 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