March: Book One by John Lewis

Your Summer Assignment

Prior to New Student Orientation in August, you should read the entire book. While you read, you may want to consider the following questions:

  1. History is often considered to be made up of objective facts. In contrast, what important role might subjective factors such “dreams” and “fate” play in history, according to March? The inauguration of Barack Obama represents a step in the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream; what might the next step be?
  2. In what ways do Lewis’s religious background and values influence his approach to the struggle for civil rights as well as the movement as a whole? Do you believe that love of one’s attacker is a requirement for effective nonviolent resistance, and are there any signs of it in the book?
  3. How does nonviolent resistance as espoused by Gandhi, King, and Lawson work to bring about social change, and how does it compare to other methods?
  4. Identify and analyze the “turning points” in John Lewis’s life. What role do you believe attending college, and his decision of which college to attend, play in his future?
  5. How do the events depicted in March connect to your life personally? Is there a modern-day issue for which you might be willing to take a stand? Would you use the same techniques as the Nashville Student Movement, or a different strategy? Has reading March changed your perspective, and if so, how?
  6. What does the book’s portrayal of various media tell us about their relationship to social and political change? As a youth, Lewis himself supplements firsthand accounts of the Montgomery Bus Boycott with those communicated via radio and newspaper, and a comic book turns out to be an important way to learn of Martin Luther King’s ideas. What conclusions might we draw from such examples? What media might you use today to disseminate new ideas and coordinate political actions?
  7. What role did economic factors play in the process of desegregation? Specifically, if African Americans had represented a far smaller part of the buying public, do you think tactics such as boycotts and sit-ins would have been as effective? What other methods might be effective?

First Year Reading: Online

First Year Reading: Online introduces students to the digital learning system at Marquette (Desire 2 Learn, or D2L) and academic success resources across campus.  The program is Marquette student centered and will be populated with juniors and seniors who will join you in university-level discussions about the book. As you complete the brief activities, you will be given access to special resources and tips to support your academic success.  All new first-year students are required to participate in the First Year Reading: Online prior to the start of New Student Orientation on August 20th.  To log in, visit D2L and enter your Checkmarq credentials (the username and password you use to check your Marquette e-mail). Once you have logged in to D2L, scroll down to Summer 2014, under which you will find the link to the Online First Year Reading Program.


If you have any issues accessing D2L, please contact the Marquette IT Services helpdesk or 414-288-7799.  If you would like more general information about the First Year Reading program, please contact the Office of the Provost at Marquette at 414-288-7511.



Marquette University Student Government
