Fall 2024 Anti-Hate Series Session 1

The Great Replacement Theory
featuring guest lecturer and esteemed scholar, Dr. Kathleen Blee
October 29th | 4:45-6:00pm
Simmons A

The first anti-hate series session from the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer examines the Great Replacement Theory; a harmful and conspiratorial ideology stemming from the nexus of white nationalism, antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia, which has historically incited global hatred and violence. Esteemed scholar and Pittsburgh community member, Dr. Kathleen Blee of the University of Pittsburgh, will explore its origins, manifestations, and intersections with other forms of bigotry. The presentation aims to highlight the dangers of this conspiracy theory, emphasizing the need to confront hateful ignorance and disinformation with education, while centering compassion, love, and a unifying commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging within and across our community.

 

My areas of interest are social movements, especially racist/anti-Semitic, and far-right movements in the U.S. and Europe, racial violence, and microsociology. I currently have two research projects: with Pete Simi and Matthew DeMichele, I am collecting data and beginning analysis in a funded prospective interview-based study of white supremacist activists to understand whether and how they separate from racist ideologies and activities over a 5 year period.  I am also working on a project on spatial and cultural precipitators of social interaction, based on a year-long ethnography of urban bus riding.