Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 47: Thinking Outside of the Box, Part 1
QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW
In this week’s episode, part 1 of 2, April and Tracie think about new paradigms for the future. Inspired by a song, we use the prison abolition movement & criminal legal system as well as Western medicine as points of reference, investigating the ways inherited systems, received as “natural,” are in fact human constructions which can be deconstructed (and reconstructed!) for a future that is more equitable, sustainable, and just.
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Access the audio version of this episode here.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Tracie begins this week’s conversation by reflecting on Mariame Kaba’s book, We Do This Til We Free Us and the abolition movement. Are you familiar with the abolition movement? What do you think about using the term “criminal legal system”?
In the book, Mariame Kaba shares that a common question she hears is, “Where will the criminals go?” which Tracie connects to the idea of how our vision for the future is limited by our past thinking. When you think about prison abolition, do you have a similar question about what to “do with future criminals?” How have our past choices around punishment impacted your ability to imagine a different future?
Tracie connects this to understanding pronouns and deconstructing the gender binary. Have you found yourself in a similar situation in your understanding of gender? How can you push yourself more to not just memorize pronouns but fundamentally revisit and deconstruct gender norms in your mind?
What are the other boundaries and ways of being that you took for granted as “common sense” but are instead cultural teachings and norms that may be impeding our future progress?
Tracie names that she has done very well within the boundaries that society has created. How have the boundaries in our society impacted you?
April talks about her experience with the Western medical system and how it taught her the limitations that exist within its boundaries. Have you had similar experiences that have shown you the limits of a societal and/or systemic boundary?
April bristles at the notion that racism is human nature. What else may people understand as human nature that is actually a result of social conditioning?
April talks about the importance of a third space, outside either/or, where the answer lies. Where are the third spaces in your life where the solutions to some of your everyday obstacles may lie?
What is your reaction to Tracie’s recounting of the Allegory of the Long Spoons? How has it helped you understand issues differently?
April thinks about how we take on other people’s feelings and blame ourselves. Do you find yourself doing that at times? How can you interrupt this pattern more? Has this kept you from hearing and/or giving feedback that could improve a situation?
INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
“We’ve been taught that these things, these boundaries are common sense… So when I wrap my mind around the fact that those boundaries are arbitrary and not normal - that they are completely created by human minds and therefore, can be deconstructed by human minds - we can do something different.”
“These solutions are here right now. We’re just not accessing them.”
“Racism is not in human nature. To be able to make distinctions between ingroup and outgroup is. For that to be inherently oppressive and horrible, I don’t agree.”
“Oppression stays entrenched - and oppression or outdated systems stay in place - in part, because of people’s lack of emotional intelligence to be able to hold legitimate critique while also holding their inherent goodness, as well as the strengths of what they bring and that innovation or improvement doesn’t necessarily have to mean an attack on individuals or even a field.”
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
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