Social Justice / Buddhism / Queerness
I read the article by Tiffany Webster, ‘Social Justice / Buddhism / Queerness’. What strikes me in this text is the consideration of paradoxes, and this led me to reflect on my position in relation to these in the context of ‘whiteness’.
“Race is the ultimate delusion in that it both does and does not exist in reality”
I think that when we speak about ‘whiteness’ and ‘white fragility’, it easy to simplify these positions as a feeling of discomfort speaking about issues of race because of a wrangling, with, or without, guilt. But I feel that, as is mirrored in the comments around capitalism and Buddhism I the article, this concept has more to do with paradoxical values surrounding recognition. It is of course right that injustice must be recognised and corrected, but in relation to identity this can be problematic as it takes a political act of identity, and therefore a confirmation of difference. When the desire is to eradicate difference, or to confirm the non-existence of ‘race’, or ‘gender’, or ‘sexuality’, the act potentially obliterates the intention/desire. “Liberation is a process”, and therefore the conversation cannot be one that ends, but that leads us away from difference eventually. These are just thoughts that come to mind in considering my own positionality in the context of potential inaction for fear of confirmation of the very difference we wish to eradicate. In my own experience, I prefer to think of a ‘paralysis’ as more fitting than ‘fragility’, caused by the paradoxical nature of what is faced in identity confirmation.
These paradoxes are useful to explore, however, as they deepen the understanding of how positionality interacts with causes. A way this concept could be explored with students in my teaching practice would be through storytelling workshops. I could conceive of a writing exercise where students describe themselves through positionality statements and then are asked to write similar statements for another member of the group. A discussion of what different feelings these two processes produce would be an interesting way of considering the paradoxes of identity and positionality and their relevance to modes of storytelling.
2 replies on “Shades of Noir – Faith”
“…paradoxical values surrounding recognition.” This sentence got me thinking of those activists, who profit from their activism (TV/Public appearances), but claim they are tired of being recognised for their activism. However, and perhaps unfairly, these activist do not seem to pass on the mic (figuratively and literally speaking) in fear their income could dwindling (and/or not being recognised).
Revisiting your reflections of faith, and considering your later discussions in the race post, there is an interesting progression in your thinking around applying and exploring these ideas through/in teaching.
I found one particular section very insightful, and it made me think about the process of exposure, acknowledgement and learning-from differently – “as it takes a political act of identity, and therefore a confirmation of difference. When the desire is to eradicate difference, or to confirm the non-existence of ‘race’, or ‘gender’, or ‘sexuality’, the act potentially obliterates the intention/desire.” This reflects how my own thinking around positionality has been affected by this course, and your points about storytelling and identity are well made. They have made me reflect on inter-positionality (?), and how each of us can connect with and understand the positions of others, so that our positions are in turn, shifting as we encounter those of other people, like points on a compass or particles interacting (I’m not sure there is a good a metaphor). Thanks.