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Week 8- Non-fiction

The main work of non-fiction I read this week was "March: Book One," which follows the notable actions of Georgia congressman John Lewis, a man who struggled against racism his entire life because he was the "wrong color..." The narrative follows the early life and education of Mr. Lewis, showing his strong desire for education, partnership with Dr. King Jr, and his refusal to allow Jim Crow laws stand in the way of him making a successful life for himself. An inspiring journey that encourages those that literally watch the man grow from a boy giving speeches to chickens on a farm to hoards in big cities, (of people that is) John Lewis' story is one that I feel anyone thinking they have an excuse not to succeed should be intimately knowledgeable of.


This comic and others like it further prove two points that I feel should be obvious by this point in my recording of these visual narratives; one, comics can inform ideas, histories, and more rather than just entertain. And two, due to the visual, stimulating nature of comics in contrast to purely written word, the subjects described are many times more approachable by younger audiences and older audiences alike; all while still able to translate their themes appropriately and effectively. Humans have been drawn to visual ways of expressing themselves for years, and while the argument could be made that books allow for more “creative freedom,” I believe that the philosophies and ideas put forward by a great visual artist helps further the ideas written by a great writer; resulting in an amalgamation of thoughts that is just as awe-inspiring as a picture free novel; sometimes bringing you to thinking about the topic in a whole new way thanks to the art style alone! (Refer to Maus from last week’s discussion)

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