Tommie Shelby: Self-Respect and the Value of Protest

The third and final lecture critically reflects on the role of self-respect in the political ethics of the oppressed, including its connection to solidarity and public protest. Risky defiance in the face of unjust treatment is sometimes called for even when one can foresee that such rebellious acts will not improve social conditions and will likely be personally costly. Relying on insights from Richard Wright, the lecture explains why this risk is sometimes necessary not only to protect one’s dignity but also to overcome the disposition to surrender to injustice.

In the framework of the Benjamin Lectures – and the associated Benjamin Chair at the Centre for Social Critique – a distinguished philosopher is invited each year, to present the broader public with current debates on key social and political issues. In 2025, Tommie Shelby will hold the Benjamin Chair. 

The Benjamin Lectures by Tommie Shelby entitled «Political Ethics of the Oppressed: Freedom, Solidarity, and Self-Respect» was given on the 18th, 19th and 20th of June 2025 at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10 in Berlin. 

By @CriticalTheoryinBerlin (Youtube)