Entitlement Racism: A Public lecture with Professor Philomena Essed & Professor Martin Parker
Currently, racism is a widely discussed topic, which is why the CBS Public-Private Platform and our cluster on Diversity and Differences are very happy to host a public lecture with Professor Philomena Essed.
Abstract
In the spite of decades of UN declarations against racism in the 20th century, today we are witnessing, often unapologetic, racist discourse and images in the name of freedom of expression. This is not only a social media hype but also, and probably more importantly, an issue of political and other public leadership, which paved the way for racially offensive discourse to become respectable over the past few decades. While seemingly targeting foremost those perceived as Muslims, anti-Black racism is at the heart as well of the same phenomenon. Entitlement racism, as I have called the practice of claiming the right to say whatever you want about ethnic and racial groups, regardless of the consequences, seems to be on the rise in Europe’s 21th century. Entitlement racism involves hurting and humiliating those perceived as religious, ethnic or racial Others. Humiliation, a relational phenomenon, has always been a key element of racism. It is an attempt to destroy or violate the dignity of the racialized Other. While it can have the impact of repressing resistance and undermining the self-respect of the Other, it also compromises the dignity of those who humiliate. In addition, a sense of feeling humiliated can trigger unpredictable responses.
About Philomena Essed
Philomena Essed is professor of Critical Race, Gender and Leadership Studies for Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change program and is an affiliated researcher for Utrecht University’s Graduate Gender program. Professor Essed is known for having introduced the concepts of ‘everyday racism’ and ‘gendered racism’ and here work is well cited among scholars from all over the world. She is the author of books such as Clones, Fakes and Posthumans: Cultures of Replication (Rodopi, 2012), A Companion to Gender Studies (Blackwell 2005; CHOICE outstanding academic title, 2005), Refugees and the Transformation of Societies: Agency, Policies, Ethics and Politics (Berghahn, 2004), Race Critical Theories (Blackwell, 2002), Diversity: Gender, Color and Culture (University of Massachusetts Press, 1996), Understanding Everyday Racism: An Interdisciplinary Theory in addition to a large number of articles and book chapters.
Besides being a skilled academic Processor Essed has a life-long commitment to social justice. In the Netherlands, for example, she co-founded the Network for College Educated Black, Migrant and Refugee Women (mid 1980s) and worked with the team that established the national institute E-quality: Experts in Gender and Ethnicity (1997/8). In addition, Professor Essed has been called upon hearings as an expert witness on racism, gender and race hearings held by The European Parliament, The United Nations Economic and Social Council, The House of Representatives of the States-General, and the United States Helsinki Commission.
Registration
Participation is free, but due to limited seats registration is necessary, and can be done here.