Critical Reflection #3

Paulo Freire refers to “humanization” and “dehumanization” as possibilities for a person as an incomplete human being conscious of their incompletion (Freire). Freire describes how oppressors use dehumanization to prevent human beings from achieving the freedom to understand and change their conditions. In an oppressive society, oppressors use dehumanization to maintain their power over others and prevent them from being more authentically human. Humanization, then, is the opposite process, which oppressed people use to become more free and affirm their identities. Working towards humanization is a form of rebellion against oppressors that proposes the transformation of reality itself so that universities can be renewed, attack old orders and established institutions in the attempt to affirm human beings as one with individual rights. To rebel against the oppressors an individual must have “critical consciousness” or a learning to perceive social, political and economic contradictions, and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality (Freire). In training courses that discuss this concept of “critical consciousness”, he found participants viewed it as a destructive mentality that can lead to a disorder amongst society as opposed to a liberation. However, some confessed, “Why deny it? I was afraid of freedom. I am no longer afraid!” (Freire). With different opinions on the idea of “critical consciousness”, Freire wants people to develop a mental liberation. In order to achieve any form of action towards liberation, people must believe that they do deserve freedom and not feel guilty about this newfound mentality. For example, a participant in one of the discussions pertaining to “critical consciousness” a factory worker for many years spoke out:

Perhaps I am the only one here of working-class origin. I can’t say that I’ve understood everything you’ve said just now, but I can say one thing — when I began this course I was naive, and when I found out how naive I was, I started to get critical. (Freire)

With this worker’s realitization or the awakening of critical consciousness, it leads the way to the expression of social discontent that were not as transparent before. As a result, it is up to the individual to believe they deserve freedom and have every right as humane to change the conditions they are in.

In the conversation between Horton and Friere, Friere describes “practice” and “knowledge” as, “Without practice there’s no knowledge” (Friere and Horton). In order words, Friere wants readers to understand that without doing, you cannot understand knowledge. Without going out and experiencing what Friere is teaching his knowledge is simply theoretical, and by actually experiencing it, an individual truly understands, and could better teach it themselves. “It’s about knowing man’s moment of information,” says Freire, meaning when the real world experiences, or practices, are a way of learning, then you’re gaining knowledge of that situation during present day in comparison to textbook readings, which is outdated knowledge are not applicable to the current reality. In addition, what Horton considers as authentic knowledge is one that is rooted in experiences and constant learning. Horton states, “Knowledge is changed to the extent that reality also moves and changes,” which describes how knowledge is an ongoing process of learning or practicing. Therefore, I want to “practice” to always be participating in the conversation and involving myself in the activities that may be present. True knowledge is only gained by participating and living in the experience of my community partner.