The Life and Legacy of John Lewis

<p><em>This episode includes disturbing language including racial slurs.</em></p><p>Representative John Lewis, a stalwart of the civil rights era, died on Friday. We take a look at his life, lessons and legacy. </p><p>Guest: Brent Staples, a member of the Times editorial board.</p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily" target="_blank">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Mr. Lewis, a son of sharecroppers and an apostle of nonviolence who was bloodied at Selma, Ala., and across the Jim Crow South in the historic struggle for racial equality, and who then carried a mantle of moral authority into Congress,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/us/john-lewis-dead.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> died on Friday</a>. He was 80.</li><li>Bipartisan<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/john-lewis-dies-reaction.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> praise poured in for the civil rights leader</a>, as friends, colleagues and admirers reached for the appropriate superlatives to sum up an extraordinary life.</li><li>Mr. Lewis risked his life for justice,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/opinion/john-lewis.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> The Times’s editorial board wrote</a>.</li></ul>