Leading
Voice for Social Justice Named New Activist-in-Residence
at Smith
Loretta
J. Ross, a national and international leader in movements
for racial and economic justice and women’s rights, will
serve as Smith College Activist-in-Residence throughout the
month of February.
 The announcement was made at
a celebration for the 70th anniversary of the founding of
Smith College’s
women’s history archives, a repository that includes Ross’ own
papers, among others.
In her role, Ross will deliver
and meet with students for a series of
workshops surrounding the basic skills of organizing for
social justice.
Ross' first lecture, "Feminism
in the Service of White Supremacy," will take place on Thursday,
Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Seelye 106. The talk will explore
the interplay of racial and sexual politics in the anti-abortion
and voter suppression drives during the 2012 election campaign.
“Loretta Ross has been involved in many social justice issues of the past 30
years and can really talk about history as it’s lived…about what goes on behind
what we read in the headlines,” said Martha Ackelsberg, William R. Kenan, Jr
Professor of Government. “We hope people take advantage of her presence on campus.”
Ross has served most recently
as co-founder and national director of the SisterSong Women
of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. An expert on the
politics of women’s health, hate groups, and sexual violence, she brings a human rights approach
to her activism and her writing.
The residency is made possible
by support from Project on Women and Social Change, Sophia
Smith Collection, Government Department, Smith College Lecture
Committee, Office of Institutional Diversity & Equity,
Program for the Study of Women and Gender. |
