Andrew Aydin

Andrew Aydin. Andrew Aydin is an American author, political aide, and activist best known as the co-author, with the late Congressman John Lewis and artist Nate Powell, of the acclaimed graphic novel trilogy March. His work is significant within the context of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement for its innovative use of the comics medium to document and popularize the history of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the broader struggle for voting rights and racial justice. Aydin's career bridges political communication, historical preservation, and social justice advocacy, making him a key figure in contemporary efforts to educate new generations about the movement's legacy.

Early life and education

Andrew Aydin was born on December 14, 1983, in Atlanta, Georgia, a city central to the history of the American Civil Rights Movement. His interest in the movement and political history was influenced by his family's background and the cultural environment of the South. He attended Georgetown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He subsequently pursued a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. During his time at Georgetown, Aydin developed a deep academic and personal interest in the narratives of nonviolent resistance and the legislative battles of the 1960s, which would later inform his professional path.

Career and graphic novel work

Aydin began his career in Washington, D.C., working in public policy and political communication. He served as the Digital Director and Policy Advisor for Congressman John Lewis, a role in which he managed the legislator's online presence and communications strategy. It was during this tenure that Aydin conceived the idea of a graphic novel to tell Lewis's story, inspired by a 1950s comic book titled Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story which had been used as an organizing tool. Aydin's professional expertise in digital media and his understanding of Congressional processes uniquely positioned him to collaborate on a project that would merge historical narrative with accessible, modern storytelling.

March trilogy and John Lewis collaboration

The March trilogy, co-authored by Aydin, John Lewis, and illustrated by Nate Powell, represents his most prominent contribution to civil rights literature. The three-volume work—March: Book One (2013), March: Book Two (2015), and March: Book Three (2016)—chronicles Lewis's life from his youth in Alabama through his leadership in SNCC, the 1963 March on Washington, the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The collaboration was deeply personal for Aydin, who acted as a researcher, writer, and bridge between Lewis's lived experience and the comics format. The trilogy received widespread critical acclaim, winning numerous awards including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for March: Book Three. It has become a staple in educational curricula, used to teach about the Civil Rights Movement, nonviolence, and activism.

Advocacy for comics in education and social justice

Beyond his writing, Aydin is a vocal advocate for the use of comics and graphic novels as serious tools for education and social justice advocacy. He argues that the medium's combination of text and visual narrative is uniquely powerful for engaging students and conveying complex historical and political themes. He has spoken extensively at institutions like the Library of Congress and numerous universities, and has worked with organizations such as the National Council for the Social Studies to promote graphic nonfiction in classrooms. His advocacy emphasizes how comics can democratize access to history, particularly the stories of marginalized communities and movements for equity.

Political involvement and policy work

Aydin's political work has been closely aligned with the legacy and policy goals of the Civil Rights Movement. After his time with Congressman Lewis, he served as a Senior Advisor in the Office of Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education during the Obama administration. In this role, he focused on issues of educational equity, digital access, and civic engagement. His policy work often centered on leveraging narrative and media to support initiatives aimed at closing achievement gaps and promoting civil rights in education, reflecting a continuous application of movement principles to contemporary government policy.

Awards and recognition

Andrew Aydin has received significant recognition for his contributions to literature and civil rights education. The March trilogy's accolades include the aforementioned National Book Award, as well as the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Special Recognition, the Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Honor, and the Michael L. Printz Award. In 2017, Aydin, Lewis, and Powell were named among Time magazine's 100's 100. He has been 's 100' 100 Most Influential Innovators and the Civil Rights Movement|Time 100'' s' 's Rights Movement.