This is a pivotal moment in United States and social movement history. Anti-Black violence is on the rise but this is not a new phenomenon—it has long been a part of the US political system. But what can be done about it? And what is the role of citizens in resisting state violence and transforming the political landscape?

In this lecture, Professor Francis argues that in order to look ahead—we first must look back at history.  Considering the long history of racial violence and protest politics may allow us to see how mass protest movements can light a way out of the present darkness.

Megan Ming Francis is the G. Alan and Barbara Delsman Associate Professor of Political Science and an Associate Professor of Law, Societies, and Justice at the University of Washington. Francis specializes in the study of American politics, with broad interests in criminal punishment, Black political activism, philanthropy, and the post-civil war South. She is the author of the award winning book, Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State.

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This event is part of the Henry H. Arnhold Forum on Global Challenges series. Established in 2022, the Forum brings together scholars from different disciplines and sponsors conferences and events on issues such as climate change, threats to democracy, and global inequality, and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to understanding global challenges and a cross-pollination of graduate student training.