“Good Trouble:” Wang Xi presents on John Lewis and America’s Struggle for Democracy.
This presentation explores the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of John Lewis (1940–2020), a civil rights icon and unwavering advocate for democracy, framed through his philosophy of “Good Trouble” as a cornerstone of democratic action. By tracing the historical trajectory of voting rights in the United States, it situates Lewis’s activism within the broader struggle for political equality, spanning from the promises of Reconstruction after the Civil War to the challenges of the modern era.
The presentation highlights Lewis’s pivotal role in the transformative movements of the 1960s—such as the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, and the Selma marches—and his legislative efforts as a congressman, including his advocacy for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the twenty-first century. Through historical analysis and contemporary reflections, this presentation invites a deeper understanding of the ongoing fight for an inclusive and equitable democracy.