The main lesson that I learned from Cornel West’s essay, Courage, is that every person has the inherent strength and power to think in his/her own way. West believes that people often conform to what they perceive as ‘normal’ due to the fear of being seen as going against the grain or nonconformist. However, I learned that every person must learn the importance of using his/her courage to speak out whenever there is injustice, regardless of who this injustice targets. In most cases, people keep quiet in the presence of injustice simply because it does not affect them directly. As West notes, it takes courage to view this as an injustice, regardless of whom it affects. That prompts him to ask the question, “how did I become so well-adjusted to injustice?” The question focuses on the need to understand that people are embrace cowardice that is contributing to their adjustment in injustice.
Another important lesson I learned from the essay is that the political class is often so willing to ensure that the mass population does not think for itself in a critical manner, which makes it easier for them to rule. West notes that “If you’re unwilling to muster the courage to think critically, then someone will do the thinking for you, offering double thinking and doubletalk relief” (p.635). From this quote, what is most notable is the fact that West believes that some people are so willing to engage in double thinking and double talk as a way of controlling the way the mass population thinks. However, I learned that this could only be possible in cases where people are unwilling to accept or embrace the truth about their society. Therefore, it becomes necessary for people to understand the importance of always accepting what they view as the truth rather than conforming to lies.
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Harro’s Cycle of Socialization premeditates that all problems affecting the society are hinged on fear, which contributes to issues such as ignorance, confusion, and insecurity. The cycle played a central role in advancing why people are so well trained not to see injustice by highlighting that people are often threatened by fear of the unknown. Based on the cycle, people are socialized through bombarded messages from different institutions that highlight the need and importance of conformity. Therefore, it becomes hard for people to look beyond the messages presented, considering that they are often threatened with negative outcomes. In cases where people are willing to speak out about injustices, they are often punished with the objective of sanctioning them into conformity. The outcome of such cases is that it becomes much easier for people to maintain silence in the face of injustice.
Harro’s Cycle of Socialization outlines some of the steps that one may consider in mustering the courage to think critically and take actions that promote social justice. The cycle reflects on the importance of considering change as a key determinant of how people develop the courage to think critically. Change plays a key role in ensuring that people do not view social issues from the perspective of others but use their own perspectives to determine whether an issue is an injustice. Additionally, the cycle also highlights the importance of raising consciousness, arguing that this is an important aspect of consideration in pushing for change. The basic expectation is that people will become much more conscious of the fact that they live in a society that supports or embraces social injustices. The cycle also highlights the need for people to question those in authority without fear considering that they have the responsibility to hold their leads to account.
Reference
West, C. (n.d.). Courage . https://geography.washington.edu/sites/geography/files/documents/harro-cycle-of-liberation.pdf
