April 1, 2021
Loretta J. Ross
Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University presents a virtual conversation with noted scholar and activist Loretta J. Ross April 5 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on the topic of “Calling in the Calling Out Culture.”
Ross is a longtime activist for women of color, social justice and reproductive rights. She is a professor at Smith College, where she teaches course on White Supremacy in the Age of Trump, Race and Culture in America, and Reproductive Justice.
This event is free and open to the public through this link: https://nmhu.zoom.us/j/97598249720
“Loretta Ross is an important voice for the radical left in the national dialogue around free speech,” said Rebecca Alvarez, a sociology and criminal justice professor at Highlands. “Professor Ross is unique in her grounding in the Black feminist and radical reproductive justice movements.”
Later in 2021, Simon and Schuster will publish Ross’ new book, Calling in the Calling Out Culture.
Ross was featured recently in The New York Times, where she was quoted as saying, “I am challenging the call-out culture. I think you can understand how calling out is toxic. It really does alienate people and makes them fearful of speaking up.”
Alvarez said, “Calling in the calling out culture is a recent cultural shift that refers to people in a public context calling out or mobbing those who use language and discourse they don’t agree with,” Alvarez said.
Erika Derkas, Highlands University sociology professor, co-authored the 2017 book, Radical Reproductive Justice, with Ross and several others.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside Loretta Ross, presenting as an allied member of the first national SisterSong Women of Color Health Collective conference in 2003 at Spellman College and working on the Radical Reproductive Justice anthology with her,” Derkas said. “Loretta infuses her work with humility, love and spiritual groundedness.
“As her new book illustrates, Loretta has a deep sense of humanity, gifting her knowledge and experience with others, particularly the younger generations. Loretta seeks to lift people along the journey, and with respect, holds people accountable while allowing them room to grow and learn. This always informs her work,” Derkas said.
The Loretta J. Ross online event is co-sponsored by the Highlands University Sociology Program, Gender and Women’s Studies Program, and the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.