Meet the 12-year-old boy who recited John Lewis’ favorite poem at his funeral
12-year-old Tybre Faw took the stage during the service to celebrate Lewis’ life by reciting one of the lawmaker’s favorite poems,…
[July 30, 2020: ABC News]
Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta echoed with applause for a young boy from Tennessee who admired Rep. John Lewis and was tapped by the late civil rights icon's family to speak at his funeral on Thursday.
12-year-old Tybre Faw took the stage during the service to celebrate Lewis' life by reciting one of the lawmaker's favorite poems, "Invictus," by William Ernest Henley.
"It matters not how straight the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul," Faw read at the service.
Faw first met Lewis in 2018 when he traveled 400 miles with his family to attend a march in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of "Bloody Sunday."
Lewis noticed Faw's sign at the time which read, "Thank you, Rep. John Lewis. You have shown me how to have courage."
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Since their first meeting two years ago when Lewis introduced himself to Faw, the pair became friends and stayed in touch.
"John Lewis was my hero, my friend, let's honor him by getting in good trouble," Faw said to the congregation filled with Lewis' friends and family.
As he walked away, Faw was overcome with emotion from the response of the crowd's applause and support..... Read More
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.