John Lewis - Get in the Way

By Kathleen Dowdey

The son of sharecroppers, John Lewis grew up in rural isolation, seemingly destined to a bleak, segregation-imposed future. But his fate took a different turn, and Lewis rose from Alabama’s Black Belt to the corridors of power on Capitol Hill, his humble origins forever linking him to those whose voices customarily go unheard. A man of the people, a Congressional elder statesman, Lewis is as exceptional as he is ordinary.

JOHN LEWIS - GET IN THE WAY is the first biographical documentary about John Lewis, an inspiring portrait of one man cast into extraordinary times and his unhesitating dedication to seeking justice for the marginalized and ignored. The film spans more than half a century, tracing Lewis’ journey of courage, confrontations and hard-won triumphs.

Through never-before-seen interviews shot over 20 years, Lewis, a masterful storyteller, tells the gripping tale of his role in these history-making events. Other key interviewees include Lewis’ congressional colleagues and civil rights activists Andrew Young, Juanita Abernathy, Bernard Lafayette and C.T. Vivian, who died at the age of 95 on July 17, 2020.

Congressman John Lewis died at the age of 80 on July 17, 2020.

Additional Interviews:
Eyes on the Prize: Then & Now - John Lewis speaks with activist Jonathan Butler about the pivotal series and getting in 'good trouble' > https://youtu.be/qdszS3flQZ8

Eyes on the Prize - The raw interview with John Lewis for the series that documented the Civil Rights Movement > https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_151-8k74t6fv60

American Experience: Freedom Riders - A three-part interview with John Lewis > https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_15-tx3513w36f