I’m currently near the end of my graduate studies program. For my second last course I took “Decolonizing Education” which turned out to be one of my absolute favourite courses out of all my years in school.
For our last class we were asked to create a piece of poetry using the final chapters of our readings. Essentially, summarize decolonization…here’s mine.
My inspiration came from Ngugi sa Thiong’o, Gloria Anzaldúa, Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Frantz Fanon and Edward Said.
At the end of our final meeting together we shared our pieces with each other. This was mine.
Language. Expression. Relevance.
Clearly.
To see ourselves.
In relationship to ourselves.
And to other selves.
What a thought. What a concept.
Process. Processes.
Affects and effects.
The reality is.
Vicious cycles. Making full circles. Always
Everything affecting and being affected by everything else.
Control. Imperialism controls.
Dominate. Imperialism dominates.
How we view ourselves. Each other.
At the centre. Not us.
Never us.
Powerless
Experience. Who’s experience.
Not our experience.
Never our experiences.
Knowledge. Who’s knowledge
Not our knowledge.
Never our knowledges
A lost people. Lost people’s.
Do you know what that feels like?
Lost.
No. Not anymore.
Shifting centre’s. Connecting.
Stories sharing. Connecting.
Listening. To each other. Connecting.
Shared experiences. Connecting.
Identities reclaimed. Identities redefined.
undefined
Flexible. Ambiguous.
It’s ok.
Empowered. Validated.
Healing.
Inhale. Exhale.
What’s next?
Shared aspirations. Connecting.
Purpose. Change.
Alternatives.
New possibilities. Always seeking.
New realities. Always claiming.
What a beautiful way to ask learners to be thoughtful and creative while synthesizing a final unit or theme of study and inquiry. Specifically, we were asked to use words or quotes from our readings that expressed the overall idea(s) and concept(s) that stood out to us as individuals. I can imagine this task working with a wide range of students of varying levels and abilities and am excited to one day try it out in my own classroom(s).
Reflectively yours,
Tamla
12raisins 
You gave me such heartwarming, goosebump giving comments/compliments and then I stopped writing!!!! A complete hiatus 😦 😦 😦 Anyway, I’m hoping to be consistently back now…and am looking forward to checking out what you’ve been up to!
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