Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 4 seconds
Recently, someone shared this Haitian proverb, implying that a small thing like a “cockroach” creates change from the “inside” with a chicken by residing inside the chicken’s belly. Apologies I don’t know the citation for this, shared via Twitter:
Is this proverb accurate? I get what they’re saying, of course. That the larger animal (institution) swallows the smaller animal (one person trying to resist and create change) and therefore any change will only happen in small ways, under the control of the larger animal, while it is actually already digesting (eating away, diminishing) the smaller animal. It resonates. Big time.
However, do we have evidence that it can be otherwise?
We do.
Viruses. HIV and Covid-19, are tiny tiny things/beings, that enter the bodies of larger animals, supposedly much stronger animals, and can potentially not only defeat these animals, make them sick, kill them, but also transfer from one to the other, right? Of course, they do this by replicating and not one one its own. Though there are probably illnesses that don’t need that much replication. I do think that the replication inside can therefore destroy the larger creature for the goals of the tiny thing. It can happen. Theoretically.
Have we seen it happen in real life? I think Google is a glaring example of the opposite. They claim to be doing good with AI, but they keep firing the people inside who are critical of the direction they’re taking. Facebook, similar? So many of these giant tech companies show on a regular basis that critical change from within is not possible. [see this article interviewing Safiya Noble and Meredith Whittaker here]
Can critical change happen within universities? I think, fundamentally, the difference between a university and a corporate entity is that it is easier to find people within an educational institution who share some critical values, so the idea could potentially “spread” and the mechanisms for that are in place, but not always easy or smooth. The ideas can spread to other institutions, too, without the person leaving their own place. There are mechanisms for that.
So we have to believe that underdogs and marginalized people and agents of critical change can make a difference, someday, somehow, probably not on their own, but by collective work and allyship, that takes years to build. But I don’t think anyone can do it alone. You need community, and communities take years to build, tears and sweat to hold together and sustain. We can’t do it alone.
Added a few minutes after publishing – this tweet by Hannah Thornton (much better worded than mine) brings up probiotics and opened up a new avenue for me:
The key element of this that captured my attention is that probiotics are little beings that help the large animal IMPROVE – versus something like HIV which DESTROYS it. And so, it’s useful, I think, to think of symbiotic relationships as well, as in, can a little being replicate enough within a larger being, to IMPROVE the larger being rather than destroy it? This is my hope for Higher Education to be honest. That all the small people who want to make critical change can build communities and allyships within and across institutions in order to cause positive, critical change, improvement, rather than complete destruction. Perhaps destroying and dismantling the oppression while constructing something good. Idealistic, I know. And the case of Google says otherwise. But I think we need to maintain hope and work towards something, rather than give up.
Appreciate this question and the reminder of how important community is for this work. I like the metaphor of fungal networks or probiotic bacteria where connection is life and the large organism exists in commensalism with the radical changers. Thank you for your work.
Ohh thank you for saying it so much better than I! Can I update the blogpost and insert your tweet as is (your name will also appear).
The probiotics are a great addition because they do indeed DO GOOD. I’m looking up “commensalism” though. What is that?
Ohmygosh of course! Hold over from my days as a biologist-commensalism is a non-harmful relationship between species where one species benefits but thinking about it now i feel like it might be too one-sided for this discussion.
I hear you on that – but the probiotics one is good because it improves the larger being rather than destroying it, so you’re helping me think of it in another way! The tiny beings can work from inside to IMPROVE the big thing, not just DESTROY it, and that’s an AHA for me!
The thing I like about the probiotic metaphor is that we can’t separate ourselves as the human from our bacteria. They very definitely shape our systems. Much like you described critical educators doing for higher Ed in your post.
Yes! Exactly 😊 What a beautiful moment today. Thank you for this inspiration.
it’s perfect, isn’t it? Thank you so so so much! This is why I blog rather than think alone!
Hi Maha,
One issue is that the belly of the chicken is not actually “inside” the chicken. It is part of the physical space occupied by the chicken so it appears to be inside it. The roach is only part of the chicken when it passes the stomach wall into the chicken’s cells. It has to be completely broken down for this to take place. This has important implications for the potential survival of individuals and communities within the belly of the beast!!
I appreciate the possibility of probiotics, but the emphasis there seems to very much on the benefit of the organisation. Probiotics maintain balance for their host, they don’t change things.
Fungal networks are a much more interesting notion, growing underground, not so much within or across but beneath, out of sight, making their own connections, making themselves a fundamental part of the survival of the surface organisms, without being coopted. But it is important that it be out of sight, because as soon as the chicken sees you moving, it will gobble you up!! That’s what chickens do!!
Hope you are well!
Nick
So interesting, I hadn’t thought of it that way. I can’t figure out if I know you? Just curious!
Its a very long time ago, that’s why. Early 2000s. Online Collaboration Course. I was one of your tutors, you were at Sheffield or you had just left. I think you were involved when it was called Ikarus, but I can’t remember.
Btw I always say Ikarus was a pre-MOOC MOOC. For its time, it was free and relatively large!
This was such a good read! Thank you for sharing
We must continue to build communities to influence critical change for fairness & equity , regardless of doing it synergistically with the larger animals (organizations) or by causing an illness (temporarily) that is aimed at building immunity (for betterment of organizations).
Omg the immunity dimension is genius!!!
Oh I love this with the direct link to the drive to improve things, not just change them. I agree! I think we can reach critical mass, we just need to find/reach out to the others doing the work alongside us.
The idea of change from within sounds in line with @adriennemaree brown’s Emergent Strategy framework. It’s fascinating and also references @jnyrose response on mycelium networks as communities that strengthen the whole.
This looks so great! It was @HannahBThornton who brought the mycelium in originally though. 🙂
I have Emergent Strategy next to me on my desk and I read from it every morning. It’s life-saving.
I like that you finish with symbiosis/hope. Darren Minister reminded me that Freire centred critical pedagogy in hope, as that helps sustain energy against oppression. It feels like madness sometimes. Without networks that reinforce that hope, it’s easier to turn away
Ooh, I’d love to do a transformative change/higher ed book club! Want to?
Bubbling along on the flood Hannah and Maha unleashed, struggling to get on my surfboard! I would love to participate in that book club.
I remember u of course!!! I would never forget your name! But your full name was not showing, yet I knew from your tone that you knew me personally!! Soooo good to hear from you!!! Did you find the form to join the book club?
definitely, definitely, this is so beautiful, what you said. Can I cite your tweet please?
And Freire has a book called Pedagogy of Hope. I’ve dipped into it and now you make me wanna go back and read it again! Networks that reinforce hope, for sure. It’s what keeps me alive
Ooooh! Let’s add this book to the list! (I love it.) The Activist Academic: Engaged Scholarship for Resistance, Hope and Social Change g.co/kgs/i1kg6Q
Yes, it was! I DMed her that her addition to the blogpost is what most people are focusing on now – I’m so glad I blogged it and she was one of the first to read it! Y’all are blowing my mind today!
that sounds fantastic!
Yay! And me. (Clearly)
Ah, gotcha. Apologies @HannahBThornton ! Your comment has opened up floodgates of awesome discussion!
fyi there’s also an emergent strategy facilitation workbook. there’s the book which I believe is more broad and the workbook is more specific.
Emergent Strategy is one of my favorite books of all time. I quote it constantly to my and @sarahlw6‘s Inclusive Design and Design Justice class. It has been resonating a lot for me since the CH announcement.
Yes of course! Thank you for writing the article ❤️
yessssss I am telling you, next to me like a security blanket every day
Just got emergent strategy in iBooks (it works better on my phone or my iPad or my Mac). Did see the workbook though…
Well, it was @Bali_Maha’s post that opened the flood gates, and I’m really happy to be able to engage in this discussion that is simultaneously inspiring me and teaching me how to be a better educator!
amb is also presenting soon at Kripalu “The Body as Our Vehicle to Liberation” kripalu.org/presenters-pro…
noooo I’m not supposed to buy any books and this looks like a book that I have to have PROBLEMS
how is it everyone has read this book and I haven’t!!! I’m dying here… might read it right now, even haha
And it’s FREE thank you!!!
I think I need to probably read it again. The last time I read it was right when it came out at the beginning of the pandemic. I think I would find different meaning in it now.
2am my time though. If i register do i get a recording, do u think?
I haven’t read it and I wasn’t invited but I would like join your transformative bookclub if it is open to internet randoms (who teach in HE)
it is totally open to internet randoms. I mean I didn’t start it, but you can tell from the ethos…
Nice to see you again, Mel. How have you been?
Please join us. Your perspective would be appreciated Mel.
Would love to. When we have concrete details, please do let me know. I am excited!
Please! If people want to pop an email address in my DMs, I am happy to help organise? If you want my help @theapepperl?
Yes, help please! Haha, I’m relatively new to Twitter, so I’m worried about trying to collect everyone’s info and leaving anyone out
I think Marcuse’s ideas about how change is co-opted by the dominant society would be relevant here. I have been in education for a while and I have seen a lot of good work (and people) dismantled by stipends, promotions, promises of tenure, “sustainable business models,” etc.
You’re doing great at Twitter, Thea.
I DMd my email address though 🥰
We’ll do it together. 🙂 In fact, I made a form! We can all add our emails and book suggestions here. forms.gle/uK2TGVy4iQpVbF…
Feel free to share the link around 🙂
Aww, you’re too kind! Haha, if you saw how overwhelmed I am at all the notifications though… and this is a supportive space! Cannot imagine how stressful it would be otherwise.
“Emergent strategy is how we intentionally change in ways that grow our capacity to embody the just and liberated worlds we long for.”
@adriennemaree
From the intro. This is awesome so far! Thank y’all for this treasure trove
Thank you so much!
second time someone mentions Emergent Strategy framework – gotta explore
🥰
Hey Maha, I’m doing well. Got some really great projects in the pipeline and barely any time to do them 😂 Also second year of my EdD and two lively boys to entertain. How are you?!
Um. Yes, you need this book. And yes, it is endlessly freakin’ amazing.
If we all agree we NEED them, surely that’ll work? 🤣
It’s so good. @schock is brilliant, the work of the Design Justice Network is incredible.
It is SO GOOD.
Me too!
Yay! And I got Emergent Strategy book on Kindle (@MiaZamoraPhD you may already know of this, but if not, tagging you in)
And we can sort of start actively looking for those connections and elevating those other voices we hear. 🙂 this will be fun. 🙂
It seems the artist of the image is Stephanie McMillan as this image has her name on the side: https://www.reddit.com/r/socialism/comments/3pmo9v/the_unity_of_the_chicken_and_the_roach_happens_in/