Envisioning a Revolutionary Hero

• In Event: 46.086 - Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: 46.086-12 - Paulo Freire: Philosophy and Pedagogy, Critique and Possibilities

Abstract

Freire's conception of "revolutionary leader" offers an opportunity to apply a critical feminist lens to the construction of the leader within a context that excluded multiple dimensions of an individual such as gender, class, race, sexuality, religion. In spite of this, the idea is translatable to a context that may not have originally been envisioned by Freire. His description of the “Revolutionary Leader” is someone who is willing to transform his/her reality to one of liberatory. Engaging this idea, this piece depicts an analysis of the revolutionary leader within a feminist perspective. Drawing from the work of Asgedet Stefanos, Kathleen Weiler and bell hooks, the revolutionary leader is critiqued. Guided by the caution of hooks, on dismissing Freire’s work, the idea of a revolutionary leader is mapped onto a woman of intersecting marginality. Through a series of photos, my mother is situated as a revolutionary leader in her willingness to transform her reality - one that witnessed religious oppression- to one of liberation through religious freedom. This brings Freire’s work alive and offers a perspective on engaging his ideas to one’s current context. One only need to reflect and one may be able to recognize a revolutionary hero in his/her life. The photo are sourced from personal records of the individual portrayed as well as creative production of the presenter.

Author

• Sameehah Ibrahim, University of Toronto - OISE