Michael Davis Lecture: Zerina Maxwell

"You hear people say political correctness, and maybe you're not sure what people mean by that, there is too much political correctness. I see political correctness as don't be a jerk, don't be overtly sexist, overtly racist or overtly xenophobic homophobic. And I feel like this election cycle had changed." Zerina Maxwell said while she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"I try to not make it about whether you're a republican or democrat I try to make this conversation as broad as possible racism and sexism are not partisan." Zerina Maxwell said as she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"What does it mean that this is our current reality. And how do we hold people in power accountable when things that harm the most marginalized people among us?" Zerina Maxwell said while she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"I think in large part what is coming to the surface is, a backlash, we are living in that moment and the progress was having an african american president the backlash is women almost majority breadwinners and that ending social norms and expectations of one gender or another gender." Zerina Maxwell said while she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

To overcome the normalization of today's day and age Zerina Maxwell said, "It is important for us to recognize this and call it out as we see it." during her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

People ask questions after Zerina Maxwell gave a presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during her speech she said, "You understand that touching a woman, kissing a woman without her consent is sexual assaslt. That is the question. How many drinks did she have or what was she wearing is irrelevant The conversation is about consent." during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"With sexism its so ingrained most of the time we don't realize it. With racism we are better at identifying it." Zerina Maxwell said while she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"Running for president is textbook masculinity, the taller person usually wins. It's all about standing in front of military, people looking very tough and walking onto the tarmac to Air Force One. Just being President visually." Zerina Maxwell said while she gives her presentation titled, "The normalization of Hate" during the 21st Michael Davis Lecture Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 in Glenn Auditorium on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)