June 12th 2024.
Reverend James Lawson, a renowned teacher of nonviolent resistance methods and a trusted advisor to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., passed away at the age of 95 on June 10. His family confirmed the news, sharing that Lawson had been battling illness and ultimately passed away on June 9 in his home in Los Angeles. Throughout his life, Lawson had dedicated himself to serving as a pastor, labor organizer, and university professor in the same city.
NBC News reported that Lawson first met Dr. King in 1957, shortly after returning from a three-year stay in India where he had studied the teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi. At the time of their meeting, Dr. King had not yet been exposed to Gandhi's work, but the two quickly bonded over their shared admiration for the Indian leader. Despite being just 28 years old, they both possessed a deep passion for Gandhi's philosophy.
After their initial meeting, Dr. King encouraged Lawson to bring the principles of nonviolence to the South, where racial segregation and discrimination were rampant. Lawson took up the challenge and began hosting workshops in church basements in Nashville, Tennessee. These workshops would go on to shape future leaders like John Lewis, Diane Nash, Marion Berry, and the brave participants of the Freedom Rides, preparing them to withstand the cruelties and injustices they would face in their fight for integration.
One of Lawson's greatest strengths was his ability to connect the teachings of Gandhi with Biblical principles. He used this to expose the fragility and immorality of the white supremacist power structures that supported the Jim Crow system. As NBC News reported, Lawson once said, "Gandhi's teachings showed me that we have the power to resist racism in our own lives and souls. We have the power to make choices and say no to what is wrong. And that is also what Jesus taught us."
Tragically, it was during the sanitation strike organized by Lawson in Memphis in 1968 that Dr. King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. In a later interview, Lawson revealed that King's murder had left him both paralyzed and deeply saddened. He also confessed that he had never expected to live past the age of 40 himself, as the constant threat of death was a harsh reality for those fighting for civil rights. But even in the face of such devastating loss, Lawson remained committed to the cause, declaring during a march commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's death, "The work we started with King is not yet finished. I am still anxious and frustrated. The task is unfinished."
Interestingly, Lawson's lifelong dedication to nonviolence began after a moment in his childhood when he reacted in anger to a classmate's racist slur. His mother's simple question, "What good did that do, Jimmy?" would ultimately shape his entire philosophy. As NBC News reported, Lawson once said, "That question made me become a conscientious objector during the unpopular Vietnam and Korean Wars, similar to Muhammad Ali. I was willing to spend a year behind bars rather than serve as a soldier." His lessons in nonviolence would go on to achieve major victories, such as the removal of "No Colored" signs at movie theaters and lunch counters in Nashville.
Despite his advanced age, Lawson remained tirelessly active as an organizer, even delivering the eulogy at John Lewis' funeral in 2023. In his speech, he urged those listening to honor Lewis' legacy by committing themselves to dismantling the injustices still present in American society. "If we truly want to honor and celebrate John Lewis' life, we must re-commit our souls, hearts, minds, bodies, and strength to the ongoing journey of dismantling the wrongs in our midst."
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Reverend James Lawson, a true hero and pioneer in the fight for civil rights. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we strive for a more just and equal society. As we remember his life and achievements, let us also heed his words and continue the work that he and Dr. King started.
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