John Lewis: Good Trouble

Everyone can strive to make the world a better place!

This film is a documentary about the life and work of the late civil rights icon John Lewis.  It is a retrospective in which viewers will get a glimpse of the many facets of Representative Lewis’ life over his long career.  It specifically highlights his work as a nonviolent civil rights advocate, voting rights champion, and finally as a dedicated legislator. This biographical sketch is told through the lens of the contemporary political turmoil that has recently engulfed our nation. 

The film’s title, Good Trouble, is one of the mottos that he lived by. It refers to the notion that experiencing difficulty in one’s life, because of taking a stand for what is right, is acceptable.  This is especially the case if it is done in a nonviolent and peaceful manner. In the film it is quite evident that John Lewis was an extraordinary person, who dedicated his life to improving our flawed democracy. Very few of us have the fortitude and determination to do what he did.  However, after watching it, I think viewers will leave with a sense that we can all do our part, in whatever little way we can, to effect positive change in our society.