In this episode of 1050 Bascom, we had the opportunity to talk with UW-Madison’s Stephen Kantrowitz, Professor of History and affiliate faculty in the department of Afro-American Studies and in the American Indian Studies Program to situate the Black Lives Matters protests in a historical and contemporary context. We asked Prof. Kantowitz’s about his comprehensive published response to a UW undergrad’s questions to him regarding whether he believes violent protest is ever justified. Prof. Kantowitz offered his insights into the role of social media in both media coverage of protests and politics more generally, sharing his take on emergence of a “self-surveillance” state. Prof. Kantowitz shared his thoughtful analysis of why there are kernels of hope but also cause for concern in contemporary discourse over Black Lives Matter and debates and struggles over confederate monuments in terms of civil discourse in democratic debate in American politics today.