Dear Society for Socialist Studies Members,
The SSS supports the Black Canadian Studies Association’s decision to withdraw from the 2021 Congress.
We recognize that in response to the BCSA’s withdrawal from Congress, there have been new Federation commitments to waiving fees for Black and Indigenous participants and to re-commit to the theme of “Anti-Black Racism and Decolonization” for a future Congress. However, these came nearly two years after the initial request and only after this year’s BCSA boycott.
The Society for Socialist Studies believes that it must act in solidarity with all those who are oppressed and marginalized, including Black and Indigenous scholars.
In solidarity with the BCSA, the SSS has decided to:
* Withdraw from Congress 2021
* Host our 5 plenary sessions, online, at the time originally scheduled, open-access.
* Host additional sessions throughout the year, from panels proposed for Congress.
* Waive membership fees for graduate students.
At the same time, we value Congress and the Federation. While we are not participating in Congress this year, we remain members of the Federation. Along with other associations that have withdrawn, we expect to remain in dialogue with the it about how Congress and the Federation can make efforts at reparations and take concrete actions towards rebuilding the relationship with the Black Canadian Studies Association and the Black community, in its diversity, more generally.
We look forward to seeing you at our planned keynotes, which will take place at the same dates and times, open-access, outside of Congress. We will soon be in touch about the details
We know that many will be disappointed that we will not be at Congress with a full programme this year. We are committed to supporting young researchers, in particular, and we are hopeful that Congress and the Federation realize the importance of meaningful change in the relationship with the BCSA and Black scholars that will allow us to return next year.
And we look forward to continuing these important conversations across our membership and beyond.
In Solidarity,
The Society for Socialist Studies Executive