1. If the Cycle of Socialization is how we get into the mess of inequality and, the Cycle of Liberation is a study of how some people have gotten out. Take a look at the Cycle of Liberation and its steps: Waking Up (Critical Incident, Cognitive Dissonance), Getting Ready, Reaching Out, Building Community, Coalescing, Creating Change, Maintaining, Core. Trace the arc of your work in this class as it relates to the Cycle of Liberation. How did working in this class lead to moments of Waking Up, Getting Ready, Reaching Out, etc.? How far into the Cycle of Liberation do you think you are regarding some of the problems we talked about in class, like racism, sexism, ableism (PTSD activities), human displacement, inefficiency of asylum claims processing, refugee resettlement, etc.
2. Now that you have analyzed your own participation in a potentially liberatory process, write about a person or organization from your Global Solutions research and trace the arc of their process. I suggest focusing on someone or some organization that has made it through the full cycle and created lasting change. In other words, they have solved a problem at the systemic level. Write this response in a way that you could copy and paste it into your Global Solutions essay.
3. Read the “Waking Up” section of the article, and write paragraph about a time you experienced a “critical incident” that changed the way you think about something related to diversity issues (race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, religion, etc.). Make sure to think about “cognitive dissonance” as part of your response, which is defined as “something that used to make sense to [you] (or that you never questioned), [that] ceases to make sense” (Harro 628). It is also a situation in which you are confronted with a truth that contradicts your previous beliefs. How did you reckon with this new knowledge?
4. What is “Coalescing?” Give some examples of the formation of coalitions from your Global Solutions research.
5. Which of your beliefs have been challenged by this class and/or your overall college experience? How did you react to these challenges?
6. If you can think of one, write about a time when you refused to accept privileges. If you have not done so, write about an opportunity you foresee in your future.
