{"id":81,"date":"2022-01-24T15:16:43","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T20:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/theunderstory\/?post_type=chapter&p=81"},"modified":"2022-05-16T16:45:29","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T20:45:29","slug":"module-1-6-abolition-and-decolonization","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/theunderstory\/chapter\/module-1-6-abolition-and-decolonization\/","title":{"raw":"Abolition and Decolonization","rendered":"Abolition and Decolonization"},"content":{"raw":"In this module we discussed the exploitation and harm of humans required to sustain our current global system, capitalism<\/strong>. We discussed how capitalism functions through a racial hierarchy (racial capitalism), creating categories of unequal humans. We discussed how the enclosure of the commons, the formation of the nation-state system and colonization on a global scale are all key elements of our global systems today. And that the conditions of exploitation and expropriation are foundational and necessary to the very functioning of capitalism itself. Because of this, conditions of slavery and indenturement persist today.\r\n\r\nThese are heavy and hard topics. It is easy to fall into and get stuck in pain, grief, or rage. In guilt, shame, or horror. It is also tempting to just not think about it all\u2013 a form of denial. We might try asking, \u201chow can I use those feelings to generate change?\u201d While holding space for these realities and doing the work to understand how our current systems operate, it is essential to remember that none of these systems and ways of organizing as humans are set in stone. These are not natural nor normal ways of existing: we humans make our social systems, and we can change them<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nYes, these are the dominant systems globally at this particular moment in time. But there are many who have been resisting these systems, advocating for change, and creating and sustaining different possibilities, from the very onset of what we now know as racial capitalism and colonialism. We encourage you to spend time exploring the power, beauty and hope present in past and present movements for change at the individual and collective level.<\/strong> This is an important source of sustenance to continue to move towards different ways of relating to one another.\r\n\r\nAbolitionist and anti-colonial struggles<\/strong> are key examples of the powerful and ongoing work to push back against these dominant systems, while also creating space to build something different. These movements and ways of being are increasing in momentum, as the realities of harm and violence that are racial capitalism and colonialism are no longer able to hide. It is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to reason or excuse the supposed necessity of a way of living based on violence, oppression and structural inequity.\r\n\r\nBelow we have shared a video of El Jones<\/strong><\/a>, a spoken word poet, an educator, journalist, and a community activist living in African Nova Scotia. El Jones was the fifth Poet Laureate of Halifax. In the video below El Jones performs at the Women's March at Grand Parade in Halifax in January of 2017. For the full text of the poem see the Halifax Examiner's publication \"El Jones: \"Still We Rise\"<\/a>\".\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Imxsg2tnjnY\r\n

\"\"Additional Resources (Diving Deeper)<\/h1>\r\nThere are many resources on decolonization\/anti-colonial struggle and abolition, as well as many diverse perspectives on both. Below are a few. We encourage you to do your own research and exploration to learn more. And to share resources with others, either from this list or your own!\r\n\r\nTo begin, check out the video produced by Yellowhead Institute<\/strong> that explores the questions of #LandBack<\/strong> from the perspective of First Nation land defenders (4 minutes).\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mouBKKNgAx0\r\n\r\nWe also invite you to revisit Nikki Sanchez<\/strong>\u2019s talk at TEDxSFU titled \u201cDecolonization Is for Everyone\u201d (13 minutes).\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QP9x1NnCWNY\r\n\r\nNew to abolition<\/strong> and what it\u2019s all about? We started talking about this in our section on Prison Labour. To really dig into what abolition is all about, including its historical roots and contemporary manifestations, check out the episode of the podcast Word Bomb that focuses on defining the mission of abolition<\/a> (23 minutes). Hosts Pippa and Karina talk about abolition with Rinaldo Walcott<\/strong>, Associate Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).\r\n\r\n