From the Library of JFWoodward
From the personal library of JFWoodward
Grab a cup of coffee or tea, a warm blanket and a curiosity for what the Author is reading now.
Woman, Native, Other
Trinh T. Minh-ha
1989
On the Dangers of Othering & The Birth of Racism by JFWoodward
​
​Page 69, "A conversation of “us” with “us” about “them” is a conversation in which “them” is silenced. “Them” always stands on the other side of the hill, naked and speechless, barely present in its absence." (TTM, 1989)
​
What is the danger in labeling someone without knowing their full story? How can we speak for someone or about someone without knowing them?
​
When we are having a conversation about them and they aren’t there to correct any assumptions or false claims, then we are creating a false identity for a group. When we make claims about a group of people, we are making assumptions based on observations that may not be grounded in truth. “They like this… They don’t like that…” The group being discussed does not have a voice in the discussion about them. They are silenced and may not even know that there are conversations and claims about them being touted as truth. This is what Trinh T Ming-ha means when she writes that, ““Them” always stands on the other side of the hill, naked and speechless, barely present in its absence.” They are vulnerable (naked), speechless because they were not invited to the conversation, and barely present because the labels being given to them aren’t of their own making. They are labels given to them by the first group without their consent or knowledge. The danger is that now the first group has started a conversation about us vs them.
​
When societies discuss us vs. them, they are committing “othering”. They have created division and a societal hierarchy in which one group is more desirable than others- this is done quickly through a one sided discussion on the comparison of values, beliefs, norms between the two groups. This also leads to treating people differently because they are different- they are not like us and therefore cannot be expected to have the same wants, needs and desires that we do.
​
The Birth of Racism-
​
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
1937
"Look acrost the river, Lennie, an' I'll tell you so you can almost see it."
You can see the American Dream...But you can never touch it.. A story of friendship, loss and mercy.