Me, Research and White Supremacy

A brief critique on a research truism.

Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece and has not been thoroughly cited. However, this does reflect my truth and my perspective as an author. I invite you to do your own unpacking of this subject matter.

Research historically hinges on a “passive observer”, which is directly tied to colonization. When the white man landed on Caribbean and North African shores, they proclaimed to have a divine right to the people and lands, having observed behavior from their colonizer lens. This passive observer approach has informed Western science thereafter, leading to regressions like phrenology, eugenics. And we see the outcomes from these “Sciences” become enslavement, imperialism, neoliberalism.

There is no such thing as a passive observer. Passive has become a dangerous substitute for white.

The problem with a “problems -> outcomes” based approach with users is we still design solutions with our own white supremacist constructs. Similar to the white savior myth, we falsely believe that we’re able to better solve problems when we look at it from a distance. but the solutions we propose from our biased perspectives wind up being far away from what’s actually helpful.

“Design allies” likely have skills in research techniques and ways of creative problem solving to bring to the table, but identity and privilege must always been accounted for.

What’s the alternative? Equity centered design — communities are designers of their own solutions

sources: decolonizing methodologies, “me and white supremacy” by layla f saad, antoinette carroll, gfx_prints, alok v menon