‘It’s about me learning about them’
In this rich and joyful conversation and the finale to the first season of DEIJ Hot Takes, Kwame Sarfo-Mensah demystifies decentering and unlearning as a critical part of DEIJ work. Focusing on the practicalities of what we do and linking it to relatable examples and personal experiences, this less than 15-minute Hot Take will help international educators to take their next step.
Kwame goes beyond racialised whiteness and discusses the unlearning that all of us need to do to learn from others and platform members of the community. Empathy, reflection, and the movement towards comfort through learning are prime ideas that Kwame shares for us to go further with.
Key Takeaways to build into our DEIJ work:
- Personal experiences and identities are important. However, considering the experiences and perspectives of others, as well as how we may appear to them, supports community building.
- Language should not hinder equity work. Rather than getting wrapped up in terms and hesitating, embody the approaches and care for the humans in your community as the basis of how you engage with people.
- Excessive racialisation and centering of self can cause us to be ignorant to the privileges we may have in the context of the community we are in. Decentering and unlearning is critical for all members of the community.
Check out the clip below and watch the full episode to learn a key approach to DEIJ work that can support your DEIJ journey.
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwame-sarfo-mensah/
Learning to Relearn: https://lnkd.in/dScf45hv
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