Freitag, 12. Juli 2024 | 19:30 Uhr
Diffrakt | Zentrum für Theoretische Peripherie

In July, Berlin’s diffrakt | zentrum für theoretische peripherie hosted a vital discussion on Black feminist anger, creating a space where anger and rage, often marginalized, were celebrated and redefined. Featuring voices like Anne Potjans, Rebecca Racine Ramershoven, and Malika Stuerznickel, the conversation highlighted the empowering potential of anger within Black feminist movements and art.

Why Anger?

Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Wanda Coleman, Toni Morrison—these Black feminist trailblazers have long insisted on the political importance of anger and rage. They illuminate that expressing anger isn’t simply an act of defiance but a method for unveiling the layers of injustice that exist at institutional and cultural levels. Through their work, we understand that anger can be an incisive lens for analyzing systems of exclusion and the “emotional control” society often demands, especially from marginalized groups. This control, as these thinkers argue, serves to uphold structures of discrimination, reinforcing limited definitions of subjectivity and the “acceptable” ways to be.

Conversation

Anne Potjans, author of Why Are You So Angry? Anger and Rage in Black Feminist Literature (2024), was at the heart of the discussion, inviting audiences to explore how Black feminist anger as more than just a response but a radical act of self-definition. Alongside with Malika Stuerznickel and Rebecca Racine Ramershoven, she delved into how negative affect can be a tool for building and navigating “Black feminist live worlds”—spaces where Black women’s voices and experiences are central, and where the full range of human emotion, especially anger, is not only validated but essential.

Hopscotch Reading Room was present with a book table, offering attendees the chance to browse and purchase related literature. After the event, guests stayed to chat, mingle, and explore the books, extending the evening’s discussions in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

For accessibility information, please see here.