ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Thursday, an esteemed Civil Rights activist visited Bay College to share his story, as well as to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In the 1960s, Lew Zuchman was one of the Freedom Riders, a group who occupied whites-only spaces—like buses—in protest of segregation. However, his upbringing was a different story.
“I was not on a positive path in life,” Zuchman told WZMQ 19. “I probably should have never gotten out of my twenties.”
Zuchman grew up in New York in an abusive home. He was arrested at the age of 13 and even became involved in organized crime at 19. His life took a turn when he joined the Freedom Riders in the South, advocating for equality, pushing for voter registration, and participating in the sit-in movement.
“Fortunately, I had begun to realize there’s another path in life,” Zuchman said to the audience. “I don’t have to be a mobster.”
With this week marking what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 9th birthday, Zuchman also highlighted some of his teachings during his speech.
“He didn’t just speak about black people; he spoke about black, white, yellow, and brown,” said Zuchman. “Why didn’t anyone hear that?”
Zuchman hoped attendees could walk away with insights from both his own life and Dr. King’s.
“My story is, I think, something which has much more of a resonance for young people because of my struggle as a young person,” he said. “Dr. King’s story is for all of us—how important it is that we understand that we are connected and when we don’t, how destructive things can be. If we look around the world today, we can see that we’re not listening to Dr. King.”
Zuchman continues to advocate for equality to this day.
“So much of the animosity in this country—whether it’s white, black, or all the other isms that separate us—don’t have to be,” he said. At another point, he stated, “When we suffer for doing the right things, that suffering can transform the world.”
Currently, Zuchman leads SCAN-Harbor, the largest youth program in the Harlem, East Harlem, and South Bronx communities, inspiring the next generation of change-makers.
“That I chose to be a Freedom Rider, I realize how much that helped save my life,” he said. “I hope other young people like me who are struggling can find that path for themselves.”
