March and Run: The history of the Civil Rights Movement told in Graphic Novels
with Andrew Aydin

Wednesday, November 10th, 2021 • 7:00 pm
on Zoom
"First you March, then you Run." - Andrew Aydin

Join the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education for a unique opportunity to hear graphic novelist Andrew Aydin speak about his work on the March trilogy and his recently-published Run: Book One as well as his relationship working with the late Congressman John Lewis. This virtual event will take place on  Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Click here to RSVP and receive the Zoom link >>

While working on his 2008 reelection campaign, Congressman John Lewis told his telecommunications and technology policy aide, Andrew Aydin, about how he and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1958 comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. Aydin repeatedly suggested that Lewis himself write a comic book.  Eventually Lewis decided to commit to Aydin's project, on the condition that Aydin write it with him. Along with illustrator Nate Powell, Aydin and Lewis created March, a three-part graphic memoir series. 

​March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. 
​All too often, the depiction of history ends with a great victory. But John Lewis knew that victories are just the beginning. In Run: Book One, John Lewis and longtime collaborator Andrew Aydin reteamed with Nate Powell—the award–winning illustrator of the March trilogy—and are joined by L. Fury—making an astonishing graphic novel debut—to tell this often overlooked chapter of civil rights history. The sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel series March, Run: Book One is a continuation of the life story of John Lewis and the struggles seen across the United States after the Selma voting rights campaign.
Andrew is creator and co-author of the graphic memoir series, March, which is the first comics work to ever win the National Book Award. ​His most recent work is a follow-up to March entitled Run: Book One​. 

An Atlanta native, Andrew is a Turkish-American who was raised by a single mother. Andrew served as special assistant to Connecticut Lt. Governor Kevin B. Sullivan and district aide to Rep. John Larson before joining the staff of Rep. John Lewis in 2007 where Andrew served in several capacities including campaign communications director and digital director & policy advisor until Lewis' passing in 2020.

A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and Georgetown University in Washington, Andrew wrote his master’s thesis on the history and impact of Martin Luther King & The Montgomery Story. Andrew frequently lectures at schools, universities, conferences, and events as well as participating in reading programs with incarcerated youth. Andrew served as a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 2018 and 2019.