politics of desirability
Reflections post-APA Division 39 Keynote from Da’Shaun L. Harrison and Joy James
In a society constructed on exploitation, the concept of desire stems from power or potential power.
When labor is desired by a capitalist, not respected or loved or cherished, just desired, it is for what the labor can earn them.
When the land is desired by a colonizer, not respected or loved or cherished, just desired, it is for what the land can give them.
After desire most often comes acquisition. But acquisition cannot come without force, be it expulsion, or extortion, or exclusion, or coercion, or control.
You desire my land [expulsion].
You desire my silence [coercion].
You desire my death [exclusion].
I no longer wish to be desirable. I do not want to be given a seat at the table because of what I bring to it. I want to cut the legs off the table and overturn it and be respected for who I am, not what I do.
Desirability also necessitates the existence of undesirability, the “othering.” How do we determine what is desirable? By what is exploitable and controllable, of course.
A free mind will never be desirable so long as free thinkers have the ability to act on their own volition.
Who are the ones society deems “undesirable?” The ones who threaten the world order. Why does the state silence us when they feel we are unable to be controlled? Why do they make up bogus charges and throw away the key or gaslight us into submission?
To release our shackles, we must first release the idea that we are only valuable when we bring something to the table.
You exist in the room. That is more than enough.
