Portland’5 Centers for the Arts invites its patrons and community members to join in a nationwide watch, in collaboration with over 60 of the nation’s arts and cultural institutions, of the riveting new documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble, which looks at the impact of Lewis’ life and work. Portland’5 audiences will be able to rent the film directly from Magnolia Pictures, then take part in a live virtual conversation about John Lewis’ remarkable legacy.
The film celebrates Lewis’ 60-plus years of activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration, through rare archival footage and exclusive interviews with the late Congressman.
“Portland’5’s core mission is to provide a space to celebrate culture, inspire youth and foster important societal discussions like racial equity. We are thrilled to offer this watch party in support of racial justice. We hope it prompts continuous discussions in the Portland community as we work to dismantle systemic racism,” said Robyn Williams, executive director.
This special rental of the documentary includes two extra features: a film of an interview Congressman Lewis gave to Oprah Winfrey shortly before his death earlier this year, as well as a one-hour panel recorded in July between the documentary’s director, Dawn Porter, and two of Lewis’ fellow original Freedom Riders, Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Dr. Rip Patton.
The film’s rental fee of $12 includes a $5 donation to Portland‘5 Centers for the Arts.
Rent the film
After screening the film, audiences are invited to join a live, interactive online panel discussion about Lewis’ history and impact on the social justice struggles of today. Panelists include Dawn Porter, the film’s director, Ras J. Baraka, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project, and Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution – who worked extensively with Lewis to establish the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The free online conversation takes place 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21 on Zoom. Registration is required.
Register for discussion
The online conversation and coordinated effort amongst the country’s performing arts centers is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) of Newark, New Jersey.
Learn more about NJPAC