That inheritance became personal in 1965, when a young John Lewis came to Chatham College, a women's college in Pittsburgh, to recruit Freedom Riders . I was ready to go south and fight for equal rights, urging our country to live up to its ideals. Where do Black Americans fit in the American narrative? In many instances it was led by our government, in response to massive protests for civil rights fueled by Black Americans, often in partnership with white Americans. Together, we emphasize the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, civic education, and respectful dialogue among Americans with diverse perspectives.