What Does Critical Thinking and Critical Theory Mean
- Slides: 12
What Does Critical Thinking and Critical Theory Mean for Us Today? Stephen Brookfield Adjunct Professor, Teachers College http: //www. stephenbrookfield. com/
Why Critical Theory? • Because it’s the most accurate explanatory theory that helps me understand what’s going on in the world • THREE CORE ASSUMPTIONS • Society is organized to make permanent inequity appear normal, a natural state of affairs, just the way things are • This perception of normality is created & disseminated via dominant ideology • The point of theory is to explain as a prompt to action
What is Critical Thinking? • Clarifying and researching the assumptions that frame our actions, decisions and judgments • Exploring alternative perspectives that present us with multiple different realities • Taking informed action based on this analysis
In the Context of Racism & White Supremacy • We Need to Understand…. . • (1) How white supremacy as a dominant ideology is learned and transmitted • (2) How white supremacy is embedded in institutional functioning – policies, structures, protocols, habits • (3) How “good” whites who are unaware of this reality can be brought to understand it • (4) How to develop an anti-racist white identity • (5) How to challenge & dismantle white supremacist systems
White Supremacy • White Supremacy – because of their innately superior intelligence, ability to use reason & logic, & capacity for calm objective analysis, whites should be entrusted with the power & control to make decisions for everyone else. People of color are too unsophisticated, irrational & emotional to be entrusted with power. They have ‘soul’ and physical grace but are deemed not to possess intelligence & are driven by animalistic instinct
Deconstructing the “Good White Person” I am a good person who works diligently in anti-racist ways Assumptions I have self-knowledge I can monitor my own racism I know how my actions are perceived & experienced I treat everyone equally and humanely I am free of white supremacist conditioning Racism is something committed by less-enlightened White friends & colleagues
I am a “Good White Person” Who…… • Regularly commits racial micro-aggressions – eye contact, examples I use, how I run meetings & classes, jokes with other Whites • Will never be free of the learned ideology of White Supremacy • Shouldn’t expect my assurances of anti-racism to be believed • Will be best positioned to uncover my racism by working in multi-racial teams • Should never declare myself an ally
MOST COMMON MIS-STEPS • Blaming People for the Workings of a System they can’t see • Presenting Privilege as Actively Enacted (it’s unconscious, not having to worry your skin color will make things difficult for you) • Shaming People for Being White • Denigrating & Disdaining People for Racial Un-Awareness • Preaching from a Position of Superiority - You Have the Answers • Requiring Confession followed by your Absolution • Withholding your voice in multiracial dialogues • Expecting to Be Appreciated – You Should Expect to Lose Something • Declaring Yourself an Ally
Approaches • Adjust your definition of success – having the conversation & keeping it going • Frame the need for conversation in terms of the mission, purpose, strategic plan etc. • Autobiographical disclosure -Talk about your own struggles with racism • Model a public inter-racial conversation • Define Terms – racism, white supremacy etc. • Understand racism as structural, systemic - a virus, learned behavior, all pervasive, air we breathe
Approaches • Set ground rules – brave space, challenge behavior not the person, only questions, expecting emotional expression, expecting anger. • Build community responsibility for conversation • Use specific protocols – Bohmian dialog, methodological belief, circle of voices, circular response etc. • Create anonymous backchannels – backchannel chat, sli. do, Critical Incident Questionnaire
Approaches • Explanations of your process as facilitator / leader; eg. Applying the principle of fairness, why you stay with a particular person/issue, why you call on people, standing your ground when people try to resist & deflect • Scaffolding – starting with events & scenarios away from people’s experiences & then slowly moving to a direct examination of personal/group experience • Scaffolding – moving from unequivocal glaring examples to more nuanced examinations involving intent, context • Direct testimony from those on the receiving end of WS • Regular formative evaluation shared w/ community
Stephen’s Resources on This • Creating an Anti-Racist White Identity (Stylus – Forthcoming, 2021) w/Mary Hess • Teaching Race (Jossey-Bass, 2019) • Powerful Techniques for Teaching Adults (Jossey-Bass, 2013) • Teaching for Critical Thinking (Jossey-Bass 2012) • Radicalizing Learning (w/John Holst) (Jossey-Bass, 2011) • Handbook of Race and Adult Education (Jossey-Bass, 2010) w/ Vanessa Sheared, Juanita Johnson-Bailey, Scipio Colin Jr III, Elizabeth Peterson • The Power of Critical Theory (Jossey-Bass, 2004) • www. stephenbrookfield. com (Go to “Recent Writings” link)
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