''Cancel'' or ''call-out'' culture is a source of much tension and debate in American society. The infamous ''Harper''s Letter,'' signed by public intellectuals of both the left and right, sought to settle the matter and only caused greater division. Originating as a way for marginalised and disempowered people to take down more powerful abusers, often with the help of social media, cancel culture is seen by some as having gone ''too far.'' adrienne maree brown, a respected cultural voice and a professional mediator, reframes the discussion for us, in a way that points to possible ways beyond the impasse.
adrienne maree brown is the author of Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds; Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good; co-editor of Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements; cohost of How to Survive the End of the World and Octavia's Parables; and founder of the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute.
Malkia Devich-Cyril is an award winning writer and public speaker on issues of digital rights, narrative power, Black liberation and collective grief; as well as a founder, former Executive Director, and current Senior Fellow at Media Justice, a national hub boldly advancing racial justice, rights and dignity in a digital age.