Kevin Lewis recounts his experience as assistant to press secretary Robert Gibbs from 2009 to 2010, as director of African American media from 2010 to 2014, and in communications roles at the Department of Justice (DOJ) from 2014 to 2017. Lewis focuses on his role as director of African American media, describing his work to amplify the administration's policy priorities and advocate for Black medi a groups to have a seat at the table. He recounts how the murder of Trayvon Martin led him to transition to the DOJ in 2014, and outlines his close relationship with Attorney General Eric Holder, the department's work on sentencing and prison reform, and efforts to evolve the structure of law enforcement. Reflecting on Obama's request for him to create an office and plan for his post-presidency, Lewis discusses becoming the chief spokesperson for Obama's personal office after leaving the administration. Also discussed are Lewis' experiences in then-Senator Obama's inaugural Yes We Can fellowship and as press assistant on the Obama campaign from 2007 to 2008, his trips to South Africa, and his reverence for Congressman John Lewis
Presidents--United States; African American mass media; Black mass media--United States; Prison reform--United States; Prison sentences--United States; Presidential campaigns--United States; Lewis, Kevin; Obama, Barack; Martin, Trayvon, 1995-2012; United States. Department of Justice
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2022
Physical Description
53 pages
Note (Biographical)
Kevin Lewis was a fellow in Barack Obama's U.S. Senate office through the Yes We Can fellowship, before he joined Obama's 2008 presidential campaign as a press assistant. Lewis then joined the Obama White House, in which he served as an assistant to p ress secretary Robert Gibbs from 2009 to 2010, and as director of African American media from 2010 to 2014. Lewis then moved to the Justice Department, where he worked with Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch from 2014 to 2017. After the Obama administration, he was chief spokesperson for the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama. At the time of the interview, Lewis works in communications at Meta
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on January 28, 2022. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Kevin Lewis, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023