Canon Fodder and the Intimacy of Dialogues

Abstract

Michael Burawoy’s 2021 essay, ‘Decolonizing Sociology: The Significance of W.E.B. Du Bois’, forges dialogues between the scholar denied and established theorists with the aim of reconstructing the sociological canon. My commentary situates the author’s essay and his own Du Boisian turn in a long career dedicated to reflexive science and recomposing theory. I reflect on the seemingly innocuous notion of a dialogue itself: its implications for sociological theory and practice, and how it supports decolonial efforts. Thinking with Toni Morrison, Hazel Carby, Lisa Lowe, and others, I offer a sketch of a decolonial methodology—what I call a Du Boisian shadowplay—that brings into view the intimate dimensions of imperialism. Ultimately, such a feminist methodology reconstructs dialogues that reflect on researcher standpoints and nested imperial histories; and in the face of today’s social crises, nurtures dialogues that are animated by an ethic of love.

Walking on Two Legs: Black Marxism and the Sociological Canon

“…In Blume Oeur’s (in press) quest for ‘intimate dialogues’, he asks me to ‘aftershadow’ the significance of my early Zambian research for decolonizing sociology. Fresh out of university, swept up by the euphoria of African independence, I was shocked by the continuing racial order I found on the Zambian Copperbelt, how the color bar reverberated untouched through the mining industry after independence.…”

“…Blume Oeur (in press) is more cautious. Instead of dispensing with the canon, he generously draws on what he finds positive in my reformism, namely the centrality of dialogue or conversation.…”

Decolonizing Sociology Through Collaboration, Co‐Learning and Action: A Case for Participatory Action Research1

“…Among the most notable public sociologists was W. E. B. DuBois, who viewed sociology as a tool for documenting and dismantling colonialism, racism, and capitalism. In contrast to his academic colleagues, DuBois published in a range of non‐academic sources, such as pamphlets, poetry, magazines, children's books, and art exhibits (Blume Oeur 2022). When his role as an academic did not yield sufficient social change, he left to pursue a new position with the NAACP, prioritizing action over academic scholarship.…”

So You’ve Provincialized the Canon. Now What?

“…One approach to adding Du Bois (and in principle, other historically marginalized scholars) is to construct “conversations” between canonical and traditionally excluded theorists (Fields 2002; Burawoy 2021; cf. Blume Oeur 2022). Others have warned of the tokenizing effects that stem from merely adding individual thinkers, such as Du Bois.…”

“…Michael Burawoy (2019, 2021) similarly endorses constructing imaginary conversations among social theorists. Freeden Blume Oeur (2022) provides a critical reflection on and feminist reconstruction of the notion of “dialogue” in such approaches. We believe that the method of mobilizing contrasting perspectives on similar phenomena can be used to operationalize Go’s (2020) perspectival realist approach while helping students build their critical intellectual faculties.…”