VOICES: Find a Way to Get in the Way...(from Institute for Southern Studies)

[Triana]

On Sept. 20, 2009, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) -- a leader of the civil rights movement who helped found the Institute for Southern Studies, publisher of Facing South -- gave the keynote address at a gala for Equality Alabama, a civil rights organization focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. The following is a transcript of his remarks. You can also watch the video of Lewis's speech at Pam's House Blend, a blog about LGBT issues published by Pam Spaulding, an Institute board member. Spaulding delivered the keynote address at N.C. Pride celebration this past weekend, drawing on Lewis's words.

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"When I growing up, only about 150 miles from here, in the fields of Troy, in the fields of Montgomery, fields of Tuskegee, and I saw those signs that said 'white men', 'colored men', 'white women', 'colored women', 'white waiting', 'color waiting' and I'd come home and ask my mother, ask my father, and my grandparents and my great-grandparents, why segregation? Why racial discrimination? And they would say, "That's the way it is. Don't get in the way. Don't get into trouble."

Well, one day I was inspired to get in trouble and get in the way, and for almost 50 years, I've been getting in the way and getting into trouble.

... We must find a way to get in the way. Don't be intimidated. Be not afraid. Just go for it. Keep pulling and keep pushing. We're going to change, not just the South, but we're going to change America. And our country is going be a much better country and as a people, we are going to be a much better people. That day will come. It will come sooner than many of us think."

MUCH more . . .

http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/09/voices-find-a-wa...

"There's nothing that can't be done if we raise our voice as One..." --Michael Jackson
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