Jessica Bliss

jbliss@tennessean.com

Beaten, gassed and nearly killed.

In his non-violent quest for civil liberty, congressman John Lewis endured continuous brutality — and pushed on.

He organized sit-in demonstrations at Nashville's segregated lunch counters. He took the first Freedom Ride out of Washington, which challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals. He was arrested 40 times.

He dedicated his life to securing civil liberties and protecting human rights.

'Because of You' A Movement Emerges in Nashville

Now, Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Georgia, will be honored in Nashville for his powerful sentiments — in both action and word.

On Nov. 19, Lewis will receive Nashville Public Library Literary Award. He will discuss his New York Times best-selling graphic novel trilogy “March” during a free public lecture and book signing at 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School. That evening, he will receive the award.

In addition to the honor, Lewis' latest book, “March,” has been selected for Nashville Reads — a yearly citywide initiative to encourage Nashvillians to read and discuss the same piece of literature. Lewis collaborated with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell on “March,” a graphic portrayal of Lewis’ story.

"Both Nashville and the nation have been forever changed by Congressman Lewis' unwavering moral compass, his relentless courage and his commitment to nonviolent change," Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said in a news release. "He continues to spread his message about the need to get in 'good trouble, necessary trouble' to audiences far and wide, whether he's sitting in on the U.S. House floor or crowd-surfing on late-night television.

"Congressman Lewis' 'March' chronicles the enduring impact of the Nashville movement and his role in it. As we continue the critical work of building a better society for all, I can't think of a better book for our city to read or a better person for our library to honor."

A graduate of what is now American Baptist College and Fisk University, Lewis was a leader in the Nashville student-led, nonviolent sit-in movement and the Freedom Rides in the early 1960s. He was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington and was at the forefront of the Selma to Montgomery March as part of the voting rights movement in 1965.

Civil Rights Leader John Lewis: 'Nashville prepared me'

A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Lewis also co-authored "Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change" and "Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement" and is the subject of two other books written about his life.

The Nashville Public Library Literary Award was established in 2004 to recognize authors. Each year the award brings an individual to Nashville to honor his or her achievements, to benefit the library and to promote books and literacy. Previous winners include Jon Meacham, Margaret Atwood, John Irving, Ann Patchett, John Updike and David McCullough.

“Through the ‘March’ trilogy, Congressman Lewis is engaging a new generation of readers in civil rights history,” Tari Hughes, president of the Nashville Public Library Foundation, said in a release. “His story is inspiring and educational, and it holds an even deeper level of meaning for Nashvillians who walk the very streets where Congressman Lewis and his peers made history.”

2016 Nashville Public Library Literary Award honoring John Lewis

PATRONS PARTY, Nov. 18

PUBLIC LECTURE, 10 a.m. Nov. 19th at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School (613 17th Ave. N)

LITERARY AWARD GALA, evening, Nov. 19th

More info: nplf.org/events/literary-award-gala