Democracy and the Imagination

Deva Woodly, professor of political science at Brown University and author of Reckoning: Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Necessity of Social Movements, joins Lawrie Balfour, UVA politics professor and author of Imagining Freedom, which explores the political thought of Toni Morrison. Drawing on their recent works, they explore how social thought and social movements offer an alternative to what Woodly calls “the politics of despair” by helping reimagine the meaning of freedom and the possibilities of democracy. Moderated by Kevin Gaines, Julian Bond Professor of Civil Rights and Social Justice at UVA.

Lunch will be served starting at 11:30 AM. Woodly's and Balfour's books will be available for purchase. Parking is not available at Bond House. If you plan to drive, there is paid parking within walking distance at the Oakhurst Inn and Central Grounds Garage. For additional handicap accessible parking spots, consult the.

The Nau Lab's “Touchstones of Democracy” series explores key events, places, thinkers, and texts that inform the history and principles of democracy. The spring 2025 conversations are produced at the University of Virginia by the Karsh Institute of Democracy and the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Host or Publisher UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy