'Cancel culture,' as conceptualized through the lens of Bayo Akomolafe, can be seen as a tumultuous and dynamically emergent social phenomenon wherein individuals or entities are collectively shunned, criticized, or boycotted by a public assemblage for perceived transgressions, often via digital platforms. However, far from being a monolithic or linear process, it serves as a reflection of the intricate dance of power, trauma, accountability, and resistance within the shared space of human interaction. This phenomenon is not merely punitive but underscores the complex interplay of voices seeking justice, the renegotiation of social norms, and the unearthing of systemic inequities. 'Cancel culture,' in this view, becomes a discursive field where profound questions about communal boundaries, ethical responsibilities, and the possibility of forgiveness are negotiated in a world that is continually becoming.
See also: white supremacy, colonial order, slave trade, black lives, contemporary activism