John Lewis Interview: Remembering MLK, JFK and RFK’s Roles in the Civil Rights Movement

In this interview, John Lewis reflects on the roles John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy played during the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis discusses the impact of their speeches, their relationships with other leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and the continued need for leaders like them today. Chapter Markers 00:00:06 A Civil Rights Movement Milestone: James Meredith and the University of Mississippi 00:01:23 Remembering John F. Kennedy’s June 11, 1963 Speech  00:02:56 Robert F. Kennedy on MLK’s Assassination 00:06:33 Robert F. Kennedy: A Figure in Civil Rights Leadership 00:08:34 The March on Washington 00:13:38 The Conflicting Roles of JFK and RFK during the Civil Rights Movement 00:15:29 Robert Kennedy’s Legacy 00:18:40 The Impact of the Kennedy Assassinations on America 00:20:21 Robert Kennedy’s reaction to Bloody Sunday 00:21:59 JFK and RFK’s Relationship ---   About John Lewis  John Lewis was a former civil rights organizer and United States Representative.  He began his career as a civil rights organizer in 1960 during the Nashville sit-in movement and as a Freedom Rider. Lewis helped plan the 1963 March on Washington and with Hosea Williams, led the 1965 Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, where he and other peaceful protestors were attacked and beaten. In congress, he served in leadership roles, including Senior Chief Deputy Whip, and sat on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus. Lewis received multiple national and international awards for his commitment to civil rights and social justice, including the John F. Kennedy “Profile in Courage” award, and a National Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2010. He wrote multiple best-selling books and continued his work in Congress as a human and civil rights advocate until he passed away on July 17, 2020 at the age of 80. Interviewee: John Lewis Interviewed by: Michael Weingrad Interview Date: August 7, 2003 © Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.