Prompt Critical Reflection 4- Speaking Truth to Power: Challenging Social Myths and Ideologies

What? All three authors, James Baldwin, Audre Lord, and Jose Angel N are challenging social myths and structures that perpetuate oppression. What social myths and/or oppressive, unjust social structures does each author speak to in their piece?

To get you started:

• What does Baldwin mean by the “paradox of education” and what does he think is the purpose of education? What are the myths that Baldwin believes education should counter and dispel rather than reinforce? (Relevant to Freire, Horton, Calederon, hooks, Tatum readings so far).
• Jose Angel N talks about the myth of economic growth that drew so many to immigrate to the United States, the “cup of promise”.
• Audre Lord writes, “For to survive in the mouth of the dragon we call america, we have had to learn this first and most vital lesson — that we were never meant to survive” (42)

So What? How do they use their stories, their identity to tell these truths? Why is telling these truths essential to their sense of meaning and how they choose to live their lives as ethical beings in the world? How is this relevant for you/your story, your work with community, your own sense of meaning?(Please draw on all 3 texts)

To get you started: Lorde describes the ways in which “we rob ourselves of ourselves and each other” (44). Her whole piece describes the ways in which our identities and sense of meaning are intertwined with that of others and part of the complexity of the human condition. Speak about what one or more of these authors suggest and/or describe ways of “bridging”, the possibility of transformation, a shift in consciousness leading to greater humanity, equity, and justice.

Now what?

1. Lorde outlines the first 3 principles of Kwanza: 1) The decision to strive towards unity in self and community, 2)self-determination, 3)collective work and responsibility (42–43). Take at least one of these principles and think about how you will apply it to your work with your community partner this semester. Be specific.

AND

Baldwin began by saying that one of the paradoxes of education is that “precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society. It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person” (6).

What do you feel is your responsibility as an educated person? How is your work with community this semester supporting or part of how you wish to use your education? Please be sure to include points from Jose Angel N.’s piece as it is is particularly relevant for the community you are all working with, most of whom are Latino immigrants or the children of Latino immigrants. How might his analysis of the current state of “negative growth” he describes inform and expand your understanding of the larger context that impact the people you are working with?