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Thanks and Tribute to Joe
Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk
I met Joe Kincheloe in 2003 at a university presentation he was giving on critical pedagogy when I was feeling disillusioned about the education system. His presentation inspired me with possibilities and hope for a more positive future in education. I was so moved by the content of his speech and his magnetic enthusiasm that I waded through a crowd of people queuing up to speak with him after his presentation and waited for a turn to shake his hand. When I finally addressed him in this frenzied setting, he was intensely present and we connected immediately. Gradually, a friendship emerged from that initial meeting which changed my life.
Months later, with Joe’s encouragement, I applied to the CUNY Graduate Center and was accepted to the Urban Education doctoral program. Joe immediately took me under his wing and agreed to be my advisor and later my dissertation chair. He gave of himself selflessly and with the patience of a saint, in the capacity of advisor, mentor, and chair. He honored my voice, even when it was awkward, and unceasingly motivated me to move forward and remain critical at all times. After year one, my voice had increased in volume and I began to question everything without hesitation. I joked with him and told him he would eventually be responsible for me losing my job because I had transferred my criticality to all of my work situations.
Joe has the ability to gently push his students to heights they have only dreamed of prior to meeting him and I realized that at CUNY from 2003 to 2006. Often, I reflect on my early days of exposure to the idea of critical consciousness and I am extremely grateful for the empowerment that effective voice has given me. The presence of voice in my life has helped me grow as a person not only in my professional life but in my personal life as well. It has been a gift that keeps on giving
Recently, I was given the opportunity to serve on a dissertation committee and did not hesitate to accept. I wanted to give back and follow in Joe’s footsteps, portraying patience, humility, and respect for individual expertise as he had done for me and continues to do as a friend and colleague.
In sum, I believe Joe embodies the definition of a true critical pedagogue and through the years has exhibited his critical edge. He is a role model and spokesperson for critical pedagogy. He honors the voice of the “other” and strives to genuinely immerse himself in multiple worlds for continued self-expansion and self-examination. Joe Kincheloe WALKS the WALK and TALKS the TALK! It is no surprise that the Paulo Freire site, under his direction, provides a space for voice and intellectual breathing. Joe is a true visionary that has carved a space for transformational change and empowered many to join him on this incredible journey.
“harmonious thought-in process”
Pam Joyce
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Pam,
Hi, Pam. I enjoyed reading your tribute to Joe and about how he has supported you throughout your work. He inspires me too, even though I have yet to meet him. I will meet him one of these days, though!
Vanessa
References
eloise (2008). An unlikely scholar. June 10, 2008. http://freire.education.mcgill.ca/content/unlikely-scholar
Hi Vanessa,
I am back from vacation and I can see that you have been busy writing while I was gone. (smile)
I can identify with the feeling that enveloped you at your colloquium. I agree that to be surrounded by brilliant minds is not only overwhelming at times but also inspiring.
Use that inspiration to empower you to move forward. I support you in your global efforts. I think if society can begin to embrace the bigger picture and the connecting prongs of the world then clarity in perspective can be a viable option.
I am happy that you have the green light from your professors to proceed with your passion.
GO FOR IT!!!!
"harmonious thought-in process"
Pam
Pam,
Welcome back from Paris!
Thank you for the reply and the wonderful words of encouragement.
I re-read my orignal post to you, and I have to smile because in my post in response to your tribute to Joe, I had written that I would meet him one day. I had no idea at that time it might be sooner rather than later. If all goes well (and the US is happy with my ID, because I do not have a passport), I will be meeting both Shirley and Joe next week in Vancouver! Shirley is giving a lecture on their new book, "Christotainment," and since Vancouver is just up the road (up I-5 about 8 hours), I plan to attend her lecture.
I just hope my ID is good enough to get over the border (well, more precisely, to be able to get back home - since getting into Canada is not the issue - Bush and his administration and wanting to keep US citizens as prisoners is the problem). I have a friend who moved here from Canada and his citizenship was delayed five years because the US mistakenly had his name on a watch list....it's crazy.
Thank you for your support in my work toward global education. I am learning so much from all of the critical pedagogues on the Freire Project site, and so the direction I want to take with my research is gradually becoming clearer to me. There is so much to be done as far as global online education is concerned and there is a unique opportunity due to online education's current state of instability and indecisiveness over theory to push global education toward one that is more critically- and ecologically-oriented.
Again, welcome back! I am looking forward to learning more about your experiences in Paris.
In solidarity,
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa,
YEH! What a great opportunity. You will return from Shirley's lecture renewed in spirit and enriched with new information. I know this will work out for you.
"harmonious thought-in process"
Pam
Pam,
Thank you for your positive words and support! I really appreciate them!
In Solidarity,
Vanessa
Alejandro Master's student at Mcgill Curriculum studies.
I was really happy to read your tribute to Joe Kincheloe. He really is an inspiring man. This is the first year that I have a class with him at McGill and learning has never been so fun. We are studying the works of Paolo Freire, another inspirational character in the world of critical pedagogy. A short time ago a series of powerful events led me to this class and suddenly these events feel connected. Outside of school I work with an organisation called Nomadic Massive. We are a multi-ethnic group, working towars creating an international dialogue among youth. We have participated in festivals across the North and South American continent.
On one occasion we hosted a group called Zafrica in Montreal. They stayed in our homes and we performed shows in Toronto and Ottawa alongside these talented singers. The morning before returning home to Brazil, we were having breakfast, and I discovered that one of the singers was also a student of Freire. At this point I had heard the name, but I was unfamiliar with the philosophy. We talked at length about Freire and I felt as though his teachings were in keeping with my own visions of educational reform. I wished that this informal discussion would never end. I was feeling more enlightened with every word about Freire. The most interesting part about this conversation was that it was shared with an individual who had actually put Freire's theory into practice.
Eventually, the Brazilians were picked up and taken to the airport. The following day Nomadic Massive had a show at a downtown Hotel. It was a luncheon for a woman named Nita. I didn't know who the special guest was, at the time, but this is often the case with our shows. We played at the luncheon and afterwards I was taken to meet Nita Freire. She had so much warmth and she listened so attentively to the unimportant things I had to say. I felt that her spirit was in tune with what I imagined about Freire. The same evening I had class at McGill. The teacher said that we would be attending a talk instead of having the usual class. The woman we were going to see talk was Nita Freire.
Both Nita and Donaldo Macedo told wonderful stories about Freire. They spoke of his passion, his childlike innocence and optimism. They handed Shirley Steinberg a pair of his glasses and original hand written works. The whole experience was really moving. I knew that I wanted to learn more about this man and help to carry on with the example that he had set. A week later at another Nomadic event I ran into Shirley, who told me that there were going to be two intensive weeks of Freire classes with herself and Joe. When I met Joe I noticed that he shared some of the characteristics with Freire. Specifically those described by Nita and Donaldo. I beleive that Joe and Shirley are the perfect people to help inspire a new generation through the creation of the Paulo and Nita Project.
Alejandro,
Thank you for sharing the series of events that brought you to Dr. Kincheloe's and Dr. Steinberg's classes. I was fascinated with how each event seemed to serendipitously prepare you for the next event. Your experiences all sound precious and provide you with memories you will carry with you for a lifetime. I really enjoyed reading this!
Your experience with the Nomadic Massive organisation reminds me of a movie I watched (a documentary) not too along ago that was about the AfroReggae movement in Rio de Janeiro and how the people were able to empower themselves through music and dance to resist the drug trafficking problems - it was called Favela Rising. It is impressive the difference these programs make and it has clearly been a rewarding experience for you to be involved in the organisation that provides these opportunities. It is very sad, though, to see the conditions under which some people are forced to live, such as was shown in Brazil in the movie.
Thank you again, for sharing your experience.
Vanessa
The Brazilian experience seems to be quite unique in Latin America. The artists we have worked with come from really poor neighbourhoods with extreme violence and drug trafficking. Yet it is amazing how education along with music, can help people realise that their is another way to live. These artists, specifically Zafrica, with their love for music, have been able to travel outside the brazilian border to see other ways of operating. I am now convinced, and as Freire says, that much can be accomplished through dialogue. I used to think that words were trivial and that we had no power to change the World. Now through music that vision has completely changed. Nomadic Massive just did a huge show in Toronto's downtown core and in two hours we were able to reach about 2500 people. Some of those people bought CD's others exchanged emails. Slowly the dialogue becomes amplified and international. There was a huge denomination from Barcelona at the show and I told them about the Freire project in Spain. In fact, I think that the hottest toopic of the evening was Freire. I saw people's eyes light up as I shared my new found knowledge of this man. I recommended to everyone to read the book that I am presently reaading: Pedagogy of the Opressed. I feel like beleiving in the ripple effect again. The notion that I can affect change by making sure that I speak positively and optimistically about the future.
Alejandro
Hi Alejandro,
Thank you so much for your reply! I truly enjoy our conversation.
If you have the chance, go into “The Reading Room” and read some of Joe’s work; he has generously posted many of his articles: he is without a doubt a genius! If you are starting a school, I think his article, which I have recommended to others entitled, "Critical Theory and the Moral Dimension: Emancipation, Complexity, and Power" is a “must” read. You can find it by going to The Reading Room (on this site) and then to the Topic: "Critical Pedagogy and Critical Theory."
The article begins, "Critical theory if nothing else is a moral construct designed to reduce human suffering in the world" (Kincheloe, p. 1). I love that statement; so simple and so powerful. He then describes how schools today, designed to simply train workers, do not provide opportunities for students to "engage in moral reasoning,...analyze the complexity, the lived complications or the moral realm" (p. 2-3). He shows how to construct a critical moral pedagogy based on eight features of his reconceptualized critical theory. It's very very interesting and would be a great foundation for any education program.
I am working on a program myself! In fact, I have a couple of courses this summer in which I will be working out the details for a combined online/face-to-face program for middle school and high school students. My specialization is online learning, but I know that we cannot meet educational needs through one venue only, so I am looking at ways to make the program accessible through multiple venues.
Let me know what you think about Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the article by Joe.
With Love,
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa,
I am really soaking up the knowledge in the Pedagogy of the Opressed. It has started to shape the way I am thinking about the world. It is giving me a renewed sense of optimism regarding my ability to cause change in this lifetime.
I was thinking today that the human race has tolerated so many acts of injustice, internationally. In the face of all this injustice, I find it so fatalistic not to believe in change. We are in an abusive relationship with ourselves when we feel hopelessness about the future. We have been taught that history predicts the future, but our history is all based on the wars. Timelines of our past have been marked with the dates of these wars, with the triumph of empires and the slaughter of millions.
We have been convinced that violence is perpetual; it has become part of our global consciousness. Furthermore, we perceive this consiousness to be right because we see our fears manifested in the media. We have difficulty believing that the images we see may actually be the result of our consiousness.
Lack of love will cause issues of self esteem, identity, and it will affect the way that any individual relates to the world. At the present time, we relate to the world predominantly through our fears and these fears continue to be manifested to us. It is interesting how much one example will equate to a trend in our minds if it confirms our fear.
I think critical pedagagy shows us that we are interpreting things backwards. We feel that change is not possible, because we do not realise that we are capable of being the catalyst for this change. This could be considered one of our greatest fears. When we don't move forth and prove ourselves wrong, giving ourselves the confidence that even more is possible we reaffirm the fear that we are helpless.
Alejandro
Alejandro,
You have made some very profound statements that cause me to view things in a totally new light. I agree with your assessment that to feel hopeless is a form of self-abuse, not only for ourselves personally, but for humanity as well. I had never viewed it that way before. Another statement that I feel is very profound, is that "critical pedagogy shows us we are interpreting things backwards. We feel that change is not possible..." Those hegemonic forces are very slick and powerful! I think it confirms exactly why we need to look for contradictions and analyze them. Often we are only seeing one side of the binary - the side that power wants us to see and that serves to keep the assumptions out of view. Also that we relate to world out of our fears....that is so true. I am always feeling afraid - did I say the wrong thing - like on this discussion board? Are Joe and Shirley going to be ok with what I have said? And on and on and on. It would be wonderful to totally replace the fear that we feel with a loving peace. I just opened up Pedagogy of the Oppressed and here is what Paulo says: "Dialogue cannot exist, however, in the absence of a profound love for the world and for the people" (p. 89). That is where my voice comes from when I advocate for revolutionary action. I really think some people in the other discussion strand continue to misinterpret that.
Peter McLaren is the voice for the world and he has to speak loudly. But he is so passionate - his voice comes from love. That's what I feel too. There is nothing wrong with that, but everything right. Here is what McLaren (2007) says at the end of his book Life in Schools - and please tell me, does it not emanate solely from a passionate love?
Living in Los Angeles is like being encysted in a surrealist hallucination….I dream with my fist stabbing the sun for a day when restitution of identity will not be brought about by revenge and violence but instead by a healing community; when labor-power will not have to be sold to a capitalist in order to pay for a day’s meager rations; when factory seamstresses from Latin America no longer have to live in their cars or over-priced motel rooms; when there is no longer homelessness among full-time workers; when school policy and curricula are not driven by the corporate sector; when the notion of the white race is abolished without a trace and the capital-labor contradiction is replaced by freely associated labor and solidarity among races; and when the country is no longer run by morally bankrupt pro-business thugs but by the workers themselves (p. 290).
It can only be love.
Thank you for the conversations, Alejandro, I have been enjoying them so much!
With Love, Vanessa
Hi Vanessa,
These observations keep coming to the surface for me every couple of years. Then somehow I get caught up in the machine again. I remember the first time I realised that all my fears were relative. I was 18 years old on a bus in the middle of Peru. My family is from Chile and I was staying there at the time. I wanted desperately to visit Machu Picchu as I had heard that there was serenity in this place. Yet everytime I mentioned this trip to my family, they would fill me with fears. They would talk about how the Peruvian people were uncivilized and uneducated. They warned me of robbery, extortion and anything negative. The words I would hear repeatedly: " Why are you going over there, they hate us!" I was becoming very discouraged and somehow I started to worry. My fear was not bases in any statistical evidence. In fact, it was not even based on an authentic account of anything. You see, my family had actually never been to Peru. They had heard stories from people who had heard stories and so on. Throughout my life I have noticed that Nationalism and the folklore that comes from it, often forces us to look down upon our neighbours. I mean, we don't really have to look further than American-Canadian relations. I find many Canadians saying that all Americans are stupid. They look at the present American government and all the stupid decisions they have made and somehow they project this onto their perception of the entire American Nation. By this token, I guess it would be fair to assume that all Cubans are authoritative or that all Iraqis are terrorists. This simply isn't true. Anyways, I finally went to Peru. I snuck out of the house at 4 am and found myself on a bus ride that would take 15 hours. The trip was amazing. I met so many friendly people. As my Family perceived me as Chilean, in Peru I was perceived as American. Regardless of who they thought I was, they treated me as a tourist in their country and I learned so much. And one point I was on the bus in the desert and I looked around and realised that none of the prejudices of my family, of my peers and of my nation could affect me. It was just me in the world and I was free to think and act how I wanted. This experience really changed how I looked at the world when I came back. I must admit that I still fall into the old ways of thinking, limited my cultural and familial parameters. However, my experiences keep reaffirming that the world is more than these perceptions and that we have the abilit to transcend these limitations.
Alejandro
Alejandro,
We are definitely "on the same page!" I just posted another response that discusses this concept of border crossing that your experience so eloquently expresses. I enjoyed reading the detail and depth you provided; what a great analysis. (You might find my other discussion interesting because I quoted Giroux and how he defines border crossing for teachers and cultural workers.)
I think border crossing can go a long way in helping break through those nationalist tendencies that set up lies about other cultures and societies. And as you pointed out, it has had a major life changing impact in how you view the world. I have experienced that as well.
I like your discussion about how some Canadians view the US. Some of us here are stupid I suppose, and the president we have is embarrassing and not representative of the people. I could actually see that there is a sense of superiority emanating from a few of the posts from Canadians, but definitely not all of them, not even most of them. It would be interesting to learn more about why some people have those sorts of views - are they more privileged than others? Have they lived a more sheltered life? Have they been more dominated and controlled in their world by their world? It's all very fascinating.
I know what you mean though, about getting caught up in the machine. It's easy to get caught up in, not so easy to disentangle oneself.
Again, I have truly enjoyed the dialogue!
Peace, Love, & In Solidarity,
Vanessa
Vanessa and Alejandro,
I hope I am not intruding in your dialogue. Your topics of discussion are quite realistic and it is obvious that you both speak from lived experiences. A question for both of you: Is fear not a result of ignorance? Were your parents and friends not speaking from ignorance when they kept telling you not to go to Peru because it is violent and they Peruvians will hurt you and steal from you?
In many ways, I do find that people that fear others (culturally, racially, religiously, sexually) is the fact that it is the unknown for them. They have no explanation and have created their own reality within their own limited context. When I was a child, I realized the injustices that were occuring to me in my own town. I lived in constant fear as a child. Constant fear of being beaten up to a pulp. I knew these people, or did I really know them? I feared them because I was being teased. I never dared say a word because I feared the consequences. I lived in fear because I was ignorant of them. I did not know them to understand why they were oppressing me. Hence, my fear was real to me but was also concocted by me.
This experience as a youth gave me power and strength. Why because I was dying -litearally inside - as a kid to get out of my town - near James Bay - away from the prejudices of that world. I had hope that there was something else out there that would give me the opportunity to be myself. I am glad I waited and percevered in my studies to go else where and be successful. It is interesting how hope was my driving force to a better life. My fear weined as my hope gained force. I had promised myself after having lived the oppression of my village and then others giving me an opportunity to grow into myself in another city that I would try to become more knowledgeable of others' oppressions. That is when I was introduced to travelling.
I enjoy travelling and getting to see others in their own world within their own cultural, religious, racial, etc. bouderies. I have learned so much from just back packing and staying at people's homes. It gives me such an insite - even though little - of what people live on a regular basis. It gives me that little opportunity to appreciate what I have and how I can assist my students in their quest for knowledge, empowerment, equality and justice.
Hi Aviron,
I think there is some truth to what you are saying. Fears are built up through ignorance, and they are reinforced by chance examples that coincide with the fear. For example, the news might cover a story about a robbery or an assault. If the perpetrator is of the dominant class, usually the crime will be associated with the world of criminials. However, when the crime is commited by someone other than the dominant class, what will be emphasized is the person's race. It's not only media that does this either. If we are raised with racist mentalities we will tend to draw these conclusions as well. In this case ignorance is perpetual and learned. First, we hear sweeping generalisations as children. Then we learn to confirm these generalisations by examples we see in our society. We are raised to believe that these examples are almost a scientific portrayal of our belief. When in fact, we are creating this reality in our minds.
The other day I was walking back from school and there was a gentleman that was trying to sneak into the football stadium without a ticket. The security guard, who was black, caught the man and they had a verbal altercation followed by a shoving match. Eventually the man scurried away mumbling under his breath: "I hate black people". I looked at him and said "that is a very ignorant statement.". He looked at me confused but kept on walking. There was no logic to his statement. He was the one breaking the rules. The race of the security guard was not as significant as his role as a security guard. He was doing his job and he only reacted phisically when the man got agressive.
Yet something caused this intruder to pull together his misconceptions and apply them to the situation. This event may have confirmed his existing belief that blacks are violent or abusive. He didn't take anything away from the situation. Like maybe " I should buy a ticket," or at the very least "maybe I should find a better way to sneak into the stadium". He reduced the event to a racial issue and thus he was able to shift the blame from himself onto the "other". This ignorant man was white and I witnessed his ignorance first hand. Yet my reaction wasn't: "oh these white people are always trying to get something for nothing...."
Alejandro
Aviron,
Thank you very much for adding to the discussion! I appreciate your thoughts. I can relate to the fear issue quite well. I guess the way I look at it is if we feel fear that is when we know we need to seek more information. Fear is a good thing, generally, (e.g. fear of heights keeps us safe) but when it leads us to irrational conclusions then it probably means we need more information. This happens to us all! I am in that situation myself, right now. Now that I think about it, it does make me feel pretty ignorant, even though I have a tendency not to want to use that word! I think lack of knowledge forces us to create a reality, and of course, that reality is not going to be correct. Maybe fear should be the flag for us that indicates we need to get more information???
In solidarity,
Vanessa
Alejandro,
Thank you for sharing that situation and I can understand what you mean by emphazing race when the crime is done expecially if it is a Black person. The media definitely knows how to play on the fear of the public and destroying the Black communities identity by generalizing all Black people are criminels. However, we know that crime has no colour. Of course, we do not mediatize as much when it is White people. I definitely agree with you on this one Alejandro.
Another case to prove your point Alejandro! Here I am Monday morning getting on the metro like many Montrealers on my way to work. Of course, we all like to have the opportunity to sit down during the voyage. Like many times, there was no seats available at my stop. Therefore, I stood like many others. It was apparent that this one White gentleman was getting annoyed at standing. Here are the events that proceeded.
A man got up from his seat to leave the train and a Black woman that was right beside the seat proceeded to sit down. The White man was also beside the seat (ont the other side) and did not realize quick enough that the seat was being vacated. The Black woman did and took advantage of the seat available to her. This angered the White man and he started to mumble under his breath that this woman was rude and had no right to sit there. It was his seat! So then he continued but this time looking at the Black woman and making rude comments such as: "Get out of my seat. This seat is mine. You have no right as a Black woman to sit. This is my seat. Get out! " Then he tried to grab her! At this point everyone was looking on! I was getting annoyed but I standing near the other door and there was a crowd between us. I was so pleased when this White lady that was on the other side of the Black lady sitting down told the gentleman that he had no right to speak to the lady that way and that it was her that sat first and therefore he needed to leave her alone. The gentleman turned away, mumbled under his breath, the doors opened and he left. Everyone around the Black lady than asked her if she was alright.
The fact that it was a White lady coming to yhr Black lady's defence is not to make the assumption that she was trying to be her saviour. The Black lady was definitely feeling uncomfortable and started to be weary about the fact that the gentleman was going to remove her from the seat forcibly. The fact that it was a White lady that spoke harshly to the White man made a clear statement to the White man. Back off!
I don't know what the Black and White ladies were thinking. Was it the fact that they were both ladies, the race issue or just the mere fact that the gentleman was getting aggressive. All I know is that I was proud that someone, anyone, came to the help of an innocent lady sitting on the bench.
In my opinion, the White man has definitely some issues with race and colour. Who knows where it orginiated, upbringing, television, newspaper, friends, etc. There was no justification for his acts and people came together to support another human being in need. It was great to have witnessed this. That morning when I had level meetings with my students at school, I shared this story with them to let them know I understand that there is racism. Now, how can you overcome this in order for you to become successful is the question I asked them. And after these two classes with Joe and Shirley, I realize that I must go even further. How can they become successful and still be Black! That is so very important.
Ladies and Gentlemen, do not lose who you are, it is your culture, your language, your religion, your identity, it is you!
As we are approaching the end of these summer courses, I cannot help but feel saddened. I have learned so much from everyone, especially you both, Joe and Shirley, to have given me the ability to look at this world in so many different lenses. I know because of your insistance at looking at things differently, that I will be an asset to my students. I have still so much to learn.
This situation you described on the metro, I believe, happens too often. Your question about why the white lady stepped in is intriguing.
If we imagine the situation on the metro without making reference to race, it would be easier to hypothesise the motivation for her stepping in. We could say that the older woman, stepped in to defend the girl because she was young. We could assume that she intervened because she was of the same gender. In any such conclusion, the older woman is not acting as a "saviour" in the way we have been learning in Shirley's class. Only when we add in the question of race are we faced with the idea of white guilt.
Is there another way to look at this? You said that the metro was crowded, so I will assume there were other white women in the metrocar. Would it be right to assume that you were one of these white women? There were probably also other people of varying ages and gender on the metro. Consider the varrying distances of people; you said you were too far away to get involved. Could proximity have been a factor? The list of variables, really goes on and on.
Isn't the most logical conclusion that certain people are prone to step in when they see injustice. Injustice is not racially exclusive. Injustice exists in different countries, cities, contextes. It can be identified without having to identify race. In this case, the man's action is not wrong because the woman is black. His actions are wrong because of basic rights and dignities accorded to every fellow citizen. If we can accept this, then the older woman is reacting to the right not to be agressed,. Consequently, the man is not deemed a racist and characterized as a crazy white guy. He is deemed a low class citizen by virtue of his lack of consideration for societal beliefs. The older woman,on the other hand, is not vilified just because she is white. We cannot disregard her action of calling out injustice.
I think this point of view is contrary to Shirley's belief that we should always talk about race. Although it is hipocritical to ignore that this issue was racially motivated, it isn't better to focus on the racial issue and ignore the injustice. Look back at the example and count how many people are demonized when we focus on race. The girl remains the initiator of the situation because she took the seat. The man remains above her because he is male, white and agressive. The older white woman remains a "saviour" because she is protecting the young black woman. All these narratives are already part of our folklore.
Now, look back at the example with you lense fixed on injustice. The black woman is not the cause of the problem, because the problem is the agression. The white man is no longer in a power role because he is breaching a social contract with his fellow citizens. The woman is not put in the traditional "motherly" role because she is an agent for change and social justice. This way of perceiving reality has made injustice more universal for me. It is the way I have been raised and I realize it is not a philosophy shared by all.
Hi Alejandro,
I believe that racist acts and injustices are linked? The metro scenario depicts real life for me. I can identify with diminished spirit of the woman of color who sat in the seat, I am repelled by the anger of the white male who lost the seat, and I understand the rescuing nature of the women who stood up for the woman of color. What really has a lasting impact on me is the idea that racism, after years of racist acts around the globe, is the underlying source of this controversy.
I hope and anticipate that in our lifetime we can all join harmoniously together to right the wrongs of the past.
RACISM CONTINUES TO BE A VERY PAINFUL EXPERIENCE!
"harmonious thought-in process"
Pam