Terms of Engagement

How Does Our Civil Rights History Shape the Future of American Democracy?

Episode Summary

Archon Fung and Stephen Richer invite democracy and civil rights advocate Cornell William Brooks to assess the evolution of America’s historical narrative and what implications history has on our contemporary political context.

Episode Notes

Unpacking the most pressing threats to American democracy requires deeper investigation of the historical currents shaping today’s civil rights battles. What lessons from the Civil Rights Movement remain relevant in addressing modern political conflicts? And if key voting protections continue to erode, where should the voting rights movement go from here?

In this episode, co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer invite democracy and civil rights advocate Cornell William Brooks to assess the evolution of America’s historical narrative and what implications history has on our contemporary political context. As the 2026 midterms approach, how can we work to safeguard civil protections and sustain a democracy that works for all Americans?