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)
Followed by	Run

March (comics) is a graphic novel trilogy and memoir by Congressman John Lewis, co-written with his aide Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell. The series chronicles Lewis's lifelong commitment to nonviolence and his pivotal role in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, from his youth in rural Alabama to the historic Selma to Montgomery marches. As a first-hand account rendered in a powerful visual format, March serves as a crucial educational tool, making the complex history of the struggle for racial justice and voting rights accessible to new generations.

Publication history and format

The idea for March originated with Andrew Aydin, who was inspired by the comic book "Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story" used as an organizing tool in the 1950s. He persuaded Congressman Lewis, a key figure in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), to tell his story in the same medium. The trilogy was published by Top Shelf Productions (an imprint of IDW Publishing) between 2013 and 2016. Each volume was released first in hardcover, followed by paperback editions. The complete trilogy was also collected into a single-volume slipcased set. The publication was strategically timed, with later volumes coinciding with the 50th anniversaries of major movement events like the Selma to Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Plot summary and narrative structure

The narrative of March is framed by the day of the 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. From his office, Congressman Lewis recounts his life story to a visiting mother and her two sons. Book One details his childhood on an Alabama farm, his early exposure to segregation, his awakening through radio sermons of Martin Luther King Jr., and his involvement in the Nashville sit-ins and the founding of SNCC. Book Two focuses on the escalating struggle, including the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. Book Three culminates with the pivotal Selma to Montgomery marches, the violent confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge known as Bloody Sunday, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Historical context and civil rights themes

March is deeply embedded in the historical fabric of the mid-20th century Civil Rights Movement. It provides a ground-level view of the philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance, as taught by activists like James Lawson and embodied by organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Central themes include the fight for voting rights, the brutality of Jim Crow laws, and the moral and physical courage required to confront systemic racism. The narrative highlights key events like the Mississippi Freedom Summer and the 1964 Democratic National Convention, illustrating the political battles waged alongside street protests. It also portrays the internal debates within the movement, including tensions between SNCC and other groups.

Critical reception and impact

Upon release, March received widespread critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling, historical accuracy, and Powell's evocative black-and-white artwork. Reviewers in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR praised it as an essential work that revitalized the historical memoir. Its impact extended beyond literary circles, becoming a bestseller and a common text in schools and libraries. The trilogy is credited with demonstrating the graphic novel's power as a serious medium for historical and political discourse. It played a significant role in introducing Congressman Lewis's legacy and the broader civil rights struggle to a contemporary, often younger, audience that might not engage with traditional history texts.

Awards and recognition

The March trilogy garnered numerous prestigious awards, cementing its status as a landmark work. March: Book One won the Coretta Scott King Book Award in 2014. The series collectively won the 2016 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, a rare honor for a graphic novel. In 2017, March: Book Three won the Michael L. Printz Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. It also made history by winning four Eisner Awards in 2017, including Best Reality-Based Work. These accolades recognized its excellence in both literary and visual storytelling, as well as its profound contribution to social understanding.

Educational use and legacy

March has been widely adopted as an educational resource in middle schools, high schools, and universities, and community programs across the United States. Its accessibility makes it a powerful tool for teaching about nonviolence, the educational use of (comics) has been widely adopted as an integral part of the curriculum in Category:Educational use of comics and Category:Comics in the Civil Rights Movement. The trilogy's legacy is profound. It inspired a sequel, Run, which continues Lewis's story into the late 1960s. More broadly, March stands as a testament to the power of comics and graphic novels to document history, inspire activism, and promote the ongoing struggle for social justice. It ensures that the lessons and sacrifices of the Civil Rights Movement remain vividly alive for future generations.