February 21

Claudia Jones, John Lewis, and the birthday of the Peace Symbol

Author

David Barnhart
February 21, 2025

Berlin Wall, mural by Indiano. 2022. Own photo.

Today is a feast day for Robert Southwell, a Jesuit priest and poet who was tortured and executed in England for his Catholic faith and refusal to submit to the Church of England on this date in 1595. He is a reminder of how senseless religious violence has snuffed out countless brilliant artists and faithful people.

Today marks the birthday of Claudia Jones, in 1915, in Trinidad and Tobago. She was a civil rights activist, communist, and writer who constantly pointed out the intersection of race, gender, and working-class oppression. She was prosecuted and deported from the United States for her communist activity, but went to live in the United Kingdom, where she raised awareness of Caribbean culture and continued her activism. 

Today also marks the birthday, in 1940, of John Lewis, civil rights leader and US Representative from Georgia. He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington, and served for years making “Good trouble” in Washington, D.C. 

On this day in 1958, Gerald Holtom designed what is now referred to as “the peace symbol.” It is a combination of the semaphore signals for “N” and “D,” which stand for “Nuclear Disarmament.” 

Reflection: 

If what I say here serves even one whit to further dedicate growing millions of Americans to fight for peace and to repel the fascist drive on free speech and thought in our country, I shall consider my rising to speak worthwhile indeed. …The glorious exploits of anti-fascist heroes and heroines, honoured today in all lands for their contribution to social progress, will, just like the role of our prosecutors, also be measured by the people of the United States in that coming day.

Take a long, hard look down the road you will have to travel once you have made a commitment to work for change. Know that this transformation will not happen right away. Change often takes time. It rarely happens all at once. In the movement, we didn't know how history would play itself out. When we were getting arrested and waiting in jail or standing in unmovable lines on the courthouse steps, we didn’t know what would happen, but we knew it had to happen.

Prayer: Diving Spirit of Liberation who is beyond time, we time-bound beings are weary of waiting and working for change. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.