So I'm a 40+ year old white dude trying to figure out life. This is
especially true after a pretty massive reset as we (I'm married with
kids) spent the past 13 years living in a couple of different countries
in Africa (Kenya & South Africa) and we visited a number of other
countries across the globe. We initially moved as optimistic &
hopeful white folks thinking we'd change the world. What we discovered
is that we had a lot of good ol' colonization vibes & a definite
white savior complex in us that needed to be divested of as quickly as
possible. It wasn't what we expected to find by any means but it was
necessary to deal with (and forever changed us). Â
To say it
another way, we moved thinking we had lots of answers with our bachelor
degrees and all the experiences of American life but what we learned was
that all of that was rubbish wrapped up in pride in our own (American?
White?) abilities over and against "them". Degrees and expertise and the
like have their place but we didn't have the lock on solutions and
empowerment that we thought we did.Â
We learned there was a
world and wealth of possibility that our white systems naturally desired
to colonize and squash. The reality though was that those other ways and
systems and cultures were full of amazing possibility and had the
answers the people there needed. We didn't. Here are a few brief
examples of what I'm talking about:
Consider nonprofit
structures. Boards, organizational charts, middle management and fancy
titles are colonized structures rooted in notions of right & wrong,
predominantly. Many of the indigenous spaces I've been in leaned heavily
towards polycentric teams, more decentralized structures and mutuality
rooted in honor/shame dynamics.
Or what of "licensing" which
may look (very) different in decolonized spaces? Does operating
authority come from a piece of paper, a long degree and governing board?
or does it come from a body of experience lived out in a community or
some direct community appointing?
Or how about how conflict
is dealt with? Do we let important figures sit with us and work through
things or initiate legal responses and follow typical organizational
impression management routines that squash problems and problem
people?
Or how about education? Is it Eurocentric? Does it
happen in isolation of community and activities that have impact or is
it prioritizing indigenous perspectives and partnering with
communities?
These are just a few of the examples. As we
began to reckon with them, our posture began to change and we sought to
decolonize and divest. We were able to build some deep relationships and
learn from people we'd come to help. We stopped trying to lead from the
front and instead strived to empower others. That gave way to coming
alongside them, which eventually gave way to celebrating and encouraging
from behind local voices and people. "Do this" became "how can I help."
Quizzing questions that judged solutions became (hopefully) powerful
questions that sought to draw out local solutions instead. It wasn't
always easy (and in fact pushing for this sort of change in colonized
organizational spaces is part of the reason we are back in our country
of birth) but it is always worth it.Â
Now, back in my home
country, my challenge as a white dude, personally, is to figure out how
to open and let my colonized world be transformed into a
welcoming/inclusive decolonized space, as much as possible. Personally I
find this decolonization work to be really, really critical (and
definitely not easy). It's worth it though.Â
I'll add that
only so much can be done if individuals seek to decolonize but the
organizations and spaces they belong to stay the same. As we
individually change we need to let our organizations and structures
change as well. I'll also add an important note on conflict: one or the
other doesn't naturally protect from harmful leaders. Power is power and
the tendencies to misuse use it exists everywhere power exists and
people cling to it. Decolonization in this sense isn't a panacea
(although personally I think it's individually helped me divest of
unhealthy relationships with power).