As I was reading Linda Alcoff’s “The problem of speaking for Others’ I realised that I have often taken a questionable stance on what I try to convey on this forum. In some articles, I have assumed a position of speaking for others (e.g. the use of “US BLACK PEOPLE”). The reality is that I do not have the faintest idea of what other black people feel or experience. As much as I am part of that race I cannot adopt a position of knowing. Linda reminded me that my position as a somewhat educated (aiming for learned) position, class status, does not permit me to speak on behalf of others. Linda reminded me that It is never valid to speak on behalf of others who are unlike me or even less privileged than me. I can therefore speak on behalf of me, the representation and meaning that I make about myself. Therefore, I profusely apologise for the error in judgement.
Linda reminds me that my location in terms of the above plays a significant role in the claims that I have made on this forum. By claiming certain things about certain groups of people, I am not stating the ‘truth’ but rather interpreting the other’s situation, reality or wishes (which might not be real). It is important to therefore acknowledge the location of the person who is speaking (or writing) as important for understanding meaning and truth. Therefore, meaning and truth changes as the speakers (writers do). In other words, as we write articles on this forum, as we engage, converse, learn, construct reality, we should keep in mind that we can only speak for the reality we personally conceive and the meaning we personally make. We cannot speak on behalf of another person, even if you share the same race, gender etc...This might lead us to have fewer insults as well....
For my part, in trying to have constructive conversations, for nation building, learning etc...I will endeavour to speak on behalf of the ‘I’ and the reality and meaning that I construct. I will therefore, participate from this point of view. Again, my apologies for taking the high ground when I had none to start from...
Furthermore, I wish that as people wanting to hear the other voices on the forum, we are inspired to speak from our individual experiences so that we can learn from each other, thus understanding the reality and truths of the other...
Thank you...
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