Conversation between ContraPoints, Loretta Ross and Lauren Bastide (original english)

Pour la version française de la table ronde, cliquez ici :    • Conversation entre ContraPoints, Loretta R...  

Today, denunciation campaigns on social networks are the subject of much debate within militant groups : the desire to have struggles converge and to unite antagonistic voices, which have sometimes become adversaries, complicates the dialogue. Loretta Ross, an Afro-feminist activist and specialist in reproductive justice issues, believes it is necessary to condemn hate speech and acts, and to support marginalized and silent voices. However, she distinguishes between two types of call-outs : those of powerful people beyond our reach, and horizontal call-outs, which she says are based on the illusion that activists can ever be “perfect”. Because the game of perfection is so simple, minorities will always come out losers : they are not among the prescribers who define what is perfect and what is not. It is also an issue about justice : since the justice system too often fails to protect minorities and the lack of objectivity is increasing, how can we act ? According to what collective framework ? ContraPoints, philosopher and YouTuber, suggests : we cannot be "for" or "against" call-outs on social networks, we need an analytical framework that can understand individualized oppressions and do in-depth research on matters of controversy. Let's discuss it together, then.