Hello? Is anyone out there reading this blog still?
I know I have been dormant for a while, and for that I apologize. Along with feeling some writers block, I have been incredibly busy these past few months and I have let this blog slip somewhat to the wayside.
But if you are still here and reading, THANK YOU! It really means a lot to me.
Placing an Emphasis on Context
If anyone has heard the term “context is key,” it is really more than just a cliche.
Since the start of the fall semester, I have been making a concerted effort to always understand and account for the contextual atmosphere surrounding the things I study and see. This has been critical to my comprehension of everything from American history to the current, devastating conflicts of Ukrain-Russia and Israel-Hamas.
Without context, we fall too easily into a fallacy of evaluating information based on our often very limited personal lens. In doing so, our mental heuristics and biases can lead us to an understanding of a situation that is inaccurate and potentially harmful to the people affected by the situation.
I want to make something clear. Collecting information from a single source, or taking someone’s word (regardless of who it is, the US president for example), is not enough to adequately contextualize a situation. More often than not, an independent study of information established before the situation surfaced is required to do this.
Decolonizing Global Cultures
This has been a theme in my recent studies that has truthfully changed my life perspectives significantly. Being a white male who came from a middle-class American household, it is one thing for me to acknowledge and reflect upon the privilege I have been raised through and continue to live in. It is another thing entirely to address and challenge the systemic issues rooted in white colonialism that are way too often overlooked or disregarded.
An example of this is the deconstruction and challenge of what is considered “Correct English.”
“Correct” English does not exist. It never will exist. There is no such thing. Whatever resembles it today is a socially constructed standard designed to advantage a particular group of people.
“Correct” in this circumstance means White English, or more specifically White-Mainstream English.
James Paul Gee, a renowned contributor to the studies of Social Linguistics and Literacies, believes that if something may harm someone else, it is always a good reason not to do it. Relating this to the use of the English language and the writing of such, we must be willing to see that the concept of “correct” English advantages the white user, and disadvantages non-white users. Particularly in recent history, the Black community of English users has been harmed by the systemic idea of “correct” English. Because of this, we now have a moral obligation to not do it.
We must not “correct” English! Way easier said than done, however.
In complete honesty, I struggled with this concept when I first approached it. I felt as if the things I was taught to value and strive for were now being labeled as incorrect and harmful, even though I personally never had any ill intent with my usage of English. But this is precisely what I am getting at! I, a white English user, feel supported by my use of English, whereas non-white English users most likely do not feel the same way.
I highly encourage anyone who feels like they don’t understand fully, or perhaps who feels like I once did, to take some time and learn about the Black Linguistic Justice movement that has been ongoing for decades.
Tschüss!
