Safia Kessas hosted a meeting with the African-American essayist in Brussels. Anti-racist activists were against it because the presenter, who was very committed to inequality, did not have the right skin color.
The African-American essayist Angela Davis, icon of feminist and anti-racist movements for fifty years, was received on Monday April 25th at the National Theater in Brussels to debate with young activists and associations. The event is sold out with 1,700 spectators.
So far everything was good. Apart from the fact that the journalist Safia Kessas, destined to animate the meeting, was the subject of threats. This woman’s guilt against inequalities? She is not black. An affront to a small group of anti-racist activists, explains Marianne.
The controversy erupted on social networks a few days earlier, on April 22. According to the ten signatories of this carte blanche, Safia Kessas, who nevertheless describes herself as “intersectional”, would not be the right journalist to discuss with Angela Davis. The choice of a “non-black person to dialogue” with the star essayist represents “new spit in the face of black activists”.
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In her opinion, “black feminist and queer activists” would have been more legitimate facilitators. “We strongly question the message sent back to black communities with the election of Safia Kessas. Don’t we have enough skills for you? Aren’t we the best place to discuss black liberation from white and capitalist rule?” Tribune where the signers demand “do justice”.
Journalist Safia Kessas did not want to comment on the issue, and Angela Davis herself condemned this extreme reaction. “For the activist, this ‘bad question’ allows her to back up her thoughts. She believes that the “focus on identities” leads to shortcuts and also mentioned the famous “break-off culture” which she describes as “disruptive”, explains Marianne again.
Angela Davis also had to say that she did not in any way oppose the choice of Safia Kessas as the interviewee. This was undoubtedly a relief for the journalist, who despite everything had to be put under police protection because of numerous threats during the conference.
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