When love is present the desire to dominate and exercise power cannot rule the day. All the great social movements for freedom and justice in our society have promoted a love ethic
In her classic book, All About Love, bell hooks argues for the importance of love on an individual, romantic, community and spiritual level. She also makes clear that love is essential for social justice movements. But writing at the turn of the twenty-first century, hooks felt that western culture was turning away from love. It was no longer being taken seriously as an integral form of resistance and model for liberation.
In April 2024 we invited artists, activists and community members to a special evening of talks and performances that did take love seriously as an essential feature of social justice. Together we explored what love actually means, how love can become a core part of our activism, and how love can help us confront the major issues of our time both locally and internationally.
Guest speakers and performance included:
Tasnim Hassan (PhD Researcher, Durham University)
Danae Wellington (Sheffield’s Poet Laureate & Cultural Producer,
Ezimma Chigbo (Collective Care Facilitator at Act Build Change)
Sahba Daf Ensemble with Yousef Sadat (Persian Music Performance)
It was important to the postgraduate researchers who helped to organise this event that the format reflected the content. There is no point talking about love theoretically if we don’t express love in practice. We chose to hold the event in Utopia Theatre, as it is a vibrant and warm communal space that champions theatre made by African people across generations. As well as hosting talks and performances here, we also enjoyed some delicious food made by Open Kitchen Social Club, who provide food, peer support and a place to meet for destitute asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and anyone in food or social poverty. Guests could also opt in to play love bingo throughout the evening. This was a means for people to avoid awkward or anxiety inducing ice breakers but still enjoy socialising and communing around a nurturing topic of discussion.
During our planning discussions we quickly identified that accessibility should be a core component of any love ethic. We recruited an accessibility consultant and asked them to attend every organising meeting, and constantly referred to the Accessibility Guide for Public Events created by the Centre for Equity & Inclusion. We also explored the work of Sins Invalid, a disability justice-based movement building and performance project, and discussed how we could strengthen the connection between love and accessibility in this and subsequent events. For the love bingo game, participants could indicate their comfort levels about being approached through colour coded stickers.
With thanks to Tasnim Hassan, Chidubem Mogbolu, Zhengxin Lin and Ankita Mishra for organising this event. To Pettra St Hilaire and Grace Buckle for providing BSL Interpretation. To Open Street Kitchen for nourishing us with their food and Utopia Theatre for hosting us as always.