I’ve been off for a while, but will be getting things caught up here in the next while. Stay tuned! 🙂
What more is there to say? It still happens, far too often, and the worst offenders are the least aware of how negative their actions are. In all of most extreme cases that I am aware of, in my cirlces, all would strongly deny any problems with their actions. Finding ways to change that narrative, when certain notions of what “helpful” looks like, is not easy, but absolutely essential. Please share widely in your circles. It’s a conversation that needs to happen. 🙂
Here are a couple of key quotes:
“It leads to paternalism: doing things to or for others rather than seeking to empower and build local capacity. It makes us into heroes rather than empowering others to become the heroes of their own stories.” (Bold mine).
“It prevents mission, aid, and development work from being dialogical and participatory; the so-called experts swoop in with their answers and expertise and fail to include the voices of local leaders, organizations, and stakeholders.”
https://sojo.net/articles/6-harmful-consequences-white-savior-complex
We must stop trying to medicate the symptoms of the white savior and look at the deeper disease. It’s one thing to realize it’s not ethical to use poverty porn or post selfies with children who we have no relationship with. It’s another thing entirely to reflect on the colonial roots of white, Western, Christian supremacy. That means doing some hard, inner work if we’re white people. It means working to change the narratives that sustain injustice. (Bold mine).
