“Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.” – Congressman John Lewis
The past two decades in America are punctuated by more activism than any time since the Great Depression: people protested for women’s rights in the #MeToo Movement, against wealth inequality in Occupy Wall Street, and campaigned against violence and systemic racism. These movements, along with many others advocating for a more just society, were widely broadcast, catching the attention of legendary activist leaders. The late Congressman John Lewis (1940 – 2020) was so inspired by this generation’s desire to improve America’s condition that he visited the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., one day before being admitted to the hospital; it was his last public appearance.
It was also during the past two decades that Congressman Lewis wrote his memoir, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America. The memoir reflects his experiences as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and offers advice to those seeking to improve conditions not only in America but also around the world. Congressman Lewis believed that “[f]reedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.” John Lewis, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America (2012).
The unfair and unjust conditions that gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement are comparable to those that fueled the Black Lives Matter Movement and the efforts to decimate human trafficking. In each instance of activism, people were—and continue to be—fighting against the oppressive and exploitative treatment of other people; they are fighting for freedom. Such a lofty goal requires ongoing action and commitment because freedom does not come with a clear finish line. The environments where oppression and exploitation persist are dynamic, adapting as society’s standards of acceptable conduct evolve. Although slavery is outlawed in America, the undignified treatment of children and adults continues through human trafficking.
Despite the progress in legislation and cultural shifts towards a freer society, conservative estimates indicate human trafficking is significantly more prolific than the transatlantic slave trade. While data suggests trafficking is more prevalent overseas, the oppression and exploitation that people like Congressman Lewis fought to eradicate still thrive in America. In the United States alone, it is estimated that one in every four people is vulnerable to trafficking, with more than one million individuals currently being exploited victims. Although the United States ranks low in terms of the prevalence human trafficking globally, it has the highest estimated number victims across North and South America. Due to the clandestine nature of this crime, it is difficult to know the true scope of human trafficking. Undoubtedly, more action is needed to protect those vulnerable to trafficking and create a more just society.
Congressman Lewis knew that more work was needed. The most recent iteration of Across That Bridge includes a letter written by Congressman Lewis while in the hospital. In the letter, he emphasizes that “humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching existential struggle” towards a freer society for quite some time. Lewis (2021). His letter is more than a farewell, and the memoir is more than an immortalized collection of experiences and thoughts. Congressman Lewis’s words are a call to action—a mandate for every future generation to continue fighting for justice and to “demand respect for human dignity.” Lewis (2021).
