Tillett Running Head: CYCLE OF LIBERATION ARTICLE CRITIQUE

Cycle of Liberation Article Critique Wayne Tillett University of Belize July 18, 2012

Tillett

Cycle of Liberation Article Critique

Roberta (Bobbie) Harro, a professor from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst wrote the article, The Cycle of Liberation (Harro2000). She articulates a process with which oppressed people can act to transform themselves. According to Harro the critical transformation begins at the point where the person becomes conscious of the reality which surrounds. In her article Harro draws credibility, from her work as a social justice educator. Harro, change process model, charts a course of self-awareness, discovery and dialogue that can lead to liberation. This is a model that empowered persons who choose to work to stop oppression can use on their journey of re-humanization. Harros work is a continuation of Freires work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire advocates for a revolution wherein the oppressed and their oppressors begin a journey of liberation in which they re-humanize themselves. For Freire, the individual, as part of this journey, reclaims his/her voice in order to name, and transform, the world. In Freires view, activity that allows people to dialogue with others helps them to define their own problems, solutions, and to become conscious of their own being and place in the world; i.e. by acting in this way, they achieve significance as human beings. Taking Freires thought a few steps further in her article, The Cycle of Liberation, Bobbie Harro articulates a process of Freires activity, within which oppressed people can act to transform themselves. Even though I did not find any scientifically sound method which she used to come up with the Cycle of Liberation, I could have seen to correlation it had to situations I experienced. After reading the first article, The Cycle of Socialization, I grasp a picture of how the cycle reinforces dominance and control over the stake holders in the education system, our students. As an educator, this understanding is very important as it will determine the extent of our contribution. I started to think along the lines of how I can be more effective and at the same time develop a relationship of genuinely mutual respect. According to Harro (2000) this is the cycle of Liberation. He writes: As people come to a critical level of understanding of the nature of oppression and their roles in this systemic phenomenon, they seek new paths for creating social change and taking themselves toward empowerment or liberation (p. 463). This statement is very powerful to me as I can also relate it to the reality we have been living as staff at the

Tillett OWITVET. As an institution we are in the process of liberation, in that we have been fighting, against a system which is made up of people who are procrastinators. People in high position who are there for the money and the fringe benefits which comes along with the position. This article further reinforces my belief that education is synonymous to liberation. There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling you get when you realize the consciousness and awareness you

have develop. It is only then that you begin living a life with purpose, direction and with a belief that you can be an agent of change. Changing a system like ours is a slow process that requires the effort of every individual. In the five years of our existence as a vocational institution we have not cease in the efforts of changing the culture influencing the policy and taking risk. And today I can proudly say that we are in the, creating change stage in the cycle of liberation. In conclusion, at the core of the cycle of liberation, as described by Harro, is self-love, self-esteem, balance, joy, support, security. Today during the discussion, one of my colleague mention that she would include self-respect, and I agree. In order to create that change or to be a part of that change then self-respect would surely lend credibility.