CR#3: Knowledge Through Praxis
Dehumanization is a term that I’ve always heard. The way I had known it was to treat a being as if they were not human, stripping people of rights, of respect and of their voice. Paolo Friere similarly discusses the ways in which oppression has illustrated pure dehumanization, of the oppressor and the oppressed. He offers that it is important to not focus and place blame on history, rather focus on humanizing one another, but not becoming the oppressor when trying to reclaim your own humanity. Paolo Friere teaches the ways in which dehumanization affects the individual person and its community. Dehumanization in chapter 1 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed is “a distortion to one’s vocation of becoming more fully human”(para 3). Paolo shares the struggle that humans have of seeking liberation. Friere shares that oftentimes, while seeking liberation of an oppressor, the oppressed can become oppressors. Paolo Friere emphasizes critical consciousness in praxis. Critical consciousness is essential in the journey to liberation. Developing sight for reality is essential. Through seeking reality, one must reflect then act. Action with reflection is what causes a shift and change in reality.
It is offered in the text that some fear the freedom, as others criticize the possible outcomes. Fear often disrupts liberation and the process of critical consciousness. The text shares “Men and women rarely admit their fear of freedom openly, however, tending rather to camouflage it — sometimes unconsciously — by presenting themselves as defenders of freedom.” The oppressed with critical consciousness can strive towards liberation, fear must be fought with passion. With reflection and action, one can seek and achieve liberation. Current societal oppression is currently commonly unseen and ignored. Many that are under the umbrella of oppression aren’t even aware of the oppression they are facing, illustrating the importance of critical consciousness.
The text discusses neutrality and the ways the term has been coined to describe our government. When one reflects and takes another look at it, are they really neutral? Every day there are members of our society that are being taken advantage of and oppressed, who is at fault for this, not only who is on top, but us for not working towards liberation, refusing reflection and knowledge. I believe that it is mainly due to fear, fear causes one to become blind to the issues surrounding us. I believe that fear is the strongest human feeling, historically fear has always been used against people, being practiced by the oppressor against the oppressed. Not only do the oppressors place fear to the people, but then society and the people that make it up, hold the same fear against one another. It can be seen as a system of fear, not only do we seek approval from world powers and the government, but then of one another. It’s a never-ending chain of fear of judgment, shame and of a higher power that causes overall blindness to our communities.
The practice is instrumental in the journey to freedom to the oppressed. Without practice, there is a lack of knowledge. Practice gives the first-hand source of knowledge. The text shares that knowledge is always becoming, and with this open cycle knowledge one may always learn more through practice and reflection. Myles Horton discusses authentic knowledge through practice in similar ways. In practicing with a community partner, reflection with guide us to discover the ways in which we may follow in action. Working with the Sparh center, I am beginning with very limited knowledge. I must practice the ways for critical consciousness to gain knowledge, striving for large overall action to strive for liberation.
Citations
Freire, Paulo. “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”. New York: Herder and Herder, 1972.Print.
Horton, Myles, Brenda Bell, John Gaventa, and John M. Peters. We Make the Road by Walking: Conversations on Education and Social Change. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990. Print.
