I believe those that have to live a life of double consciousness do understand their societies more than those in the center. There are all the jokes around that the higher ups are ignorant to the world and do not know how to navigate it without money. There is truth in that, or otherwise the joke wouldn't exist. If you are in the center, and you have all the money, what need do you really have to understand society, in a way you are the society. There are advantages to having this double consciousness, especially nowadays. If you were to be able to mix both of your consciousness, you would have the ability to relate to those who are in the outer circle, and then with you inner circle knowledge, have a way of conveying the information - you could do a lot of good in the world that way. Similar to that is the opposite, someone from the inner circle having knowledge of the outside.
Either way, it is beneficial to all to know multiple consciousnesses, and not even to help other people, but to just understand society more and how it works. None of this is necessarily right, however that's the way it is, and us in World Politics are one of the few that can see in or see out, and that is why we are in a program about the world, which opens our eyes more, and with that we can do more good for the world.
- Eli
Amazing as always! I agree with you that those in the center does not have a need for double consciousness to navigate the society, because they are responsible for the construction of society. However, I don't think that those with double consciousness should just understand how society works; but, rather, they should collectively find ways to make those not at the center less marginalized. One can understand how society works and be "woke", but still abides to the social construction that reinforces marginalization of certain groups. What do you think, am I too optimistic?
ReplyDeleteDear Eli,
ReplyDeleteWhat would you make of a notion of a “triple consciousness” that perhaps entailed another identifying characteristic such as gender? I have read pieces from some individuals who argue that Du Bois’ double consciousness can be layered/multiplied even further. What would be the implications of a triple consciousness for the epistemic privilege of a marginalized group or a constituency that was marginalized in multiple ways beyond just race?