Over the past week I have been mesmerized with the story of Ingrid Betancourt, the one-time candidate for President of Colombia, kidnapped during the campaign in 2002 and held prisoner by rebels for 6 years until her rescue last week. I have been reading all I can about her career prior to the kidnapping and trying to learn more about the socio-political context in Colombia - then and now. She's one of many brave crusaders struggling for social justice in oppressive cultural contexts around the word, but represents a level of sacrifice, personal risk-taking, and profound engagement in revolutionary transformation that isworthy of examination.
Simultaneously I have been re-reading Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire's words seem to have significant bearing in reflecting upon the personal sacrifices, willing sacrifices, of Betancourt for the sake of bringing about cultural change in Colombia. Incidentally, I caught an HBO documentary titled The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt over the weekend. It was playing on CNN. It provides a very detailed backstory to her kidnapping and what transpired afteward. Betancourt's story makes me consider a number of things.
How much are we willing to sacrifice for the good of others? Can we hope to understand the true nature of oppression in a nation such as the United States? How do we form alliances with the oppressed, when we are all ultimately both oppressed and oppressors at some level ourselves. And let me be specific here; by "we" I am referring to the dominant oppressive class to which I at least partially belong, have full access to, derive great privilege from, and can retreat within at any time of my choosing. I speak here to my white brothers and sisters. If we, as educators, do indeed seek social transformation through our practice, then we have become revolutionary leaders. In Freire's terms, we have become converts to the cause of the oppressed, and seek to ameliorate that oppression through our pedagogical action. We have become humanists. However how far are we willing to go? How much of ourselves are we willing to sacrifice? We do not face the reality of imprisonment in the jungle for years, however we do face the reality of confronting our own complicit role in the oppression of others. That is the true bridge to cross to become an agent of transformational change.
Freire tells us...
"Those who authentically commit themselves to the people must re-examine themselves constantly. This conversion is so radical as not to allow of ambiguous behavior. To affirm this commitment but to consider oneself the proprietor of revolutionary wisdom - which must then be given to (or imposed on) the people - is to retain the old ways. The man or woman who proclaims devotion to the cause of liberation yet is unable to enter into communion with the people, whom he or she continues to see as totally ignorant, is grievously self-deceived. The convert who approaches the people but feels alarm at each step they take, each doubt they express, and each suggestion they offer, and attempts to impose his 'status,' remains nostalgic towards his origins."
Reformers such as Betancourt have given up pieces of their lives, if not their lives themselves, in taking a stand for the sake of the powerless. Yet even in less pressing circumstances an accomplice to social transformation must give something up, must sacrifice. Freire suggests that one thing that must first go is the privilege of imposition, of knowing what is right for the oppressed. The pathway to transformation must emerge from the interaction of converted oppressors with the oppressed in the co-construction of new truths and new ways of knowing. Certainly such ideas have profound implications for education. What would American public education look like if we made a wholesale shift to the type of sacrifice Freire is suggesting?
7 comments:
This gives me tremendous food for thought. What are the goals of my academic persuits? Where do I want to make an impact?
With regard to equity, I have a situation in my district that I need to take action on(a school where children of color are referred for discipline on a much higher rate than white children). I am still unsure how to impact this situation but am working closely with the principal.
Thanks.
Interesting. I posted on both kidnapping as well as my feelings toward government (somewhat)just prior to reading your blog.
I feel in awe regarding people like Betancourt. I feel that it (or she) is so large and that I am very small in my little world. The issues that I see just seem so large and deep and how could I possibly attack the giant?
Somehow I have to move beyond that and realize the impact that can be had. But how...?
Wow, those are some powerful thoughts. Like Leah, I also feel overwhelmed by the problems in this world -- and then petty when I stress about my own such relatively simple worries. I know that as ghandi states, we must be the change we wish to see in this world and we can try to enact this in our daily actions and decisions -- and be like the butterfly described in Chaos Theory. But how can we take actions that are more significant and far-reaching?
I'm thinkinmg about Betancourt's bold and brave attempt to cause change in a very difficult country - to try to enact social changes that Freire and others describe, encourage, and even demand. Yet the results for her were frightening. Her story must be used in Colombia to transmit her message and transform people. It is the story which can grow beyond the person. It is the story which gives disconnected people hope. I am using story here to mean this particular situation but more theoretically The Story is the way we reach people and transform the images in their heads.
I appreciated reading this thoughtful posting connecting current events to Freire's philosophy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
-Corey
Sometimes we need to bring our focus back in to ourselves. We get very caught up in thoughts of society and culture and how we can affect great change, but some of the biggest changes can be accomplished through attention to small details in our own lives. Start small and great things will come...
The one constant that comes to mind to truly get to the core of issues to resolve them is reflection or, as educational leaders, metacognition.I believe that we need to be highly contemplative as we work to resolve issues and to teach our students and even staff to do the same. We seem rather good at surface reflection--giving our immediate feedback to a particular issue or idea without getting to the core, where the truth for that individual rests. This idea for reflection is prominent in Freire as well. If we lead the type of reflection that encourages problem solving and includes all perspectives, we will seemingly move forward.
I am pleased that we are going down the dangerous but important road to reflection through critical theory, and that we are starting with Freire. As a priviledged professional I know I have become too comfortable in my role and needed to come back to my original role as a student to feel that discomfort again. To question and be cognizant of what I represent to those around me...to think about and also ACT upon that which must be acted upon.
Thanks for pushing us.
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