A New Way Of Thinking

Shannon Trinh
Section A01

ASA Blog #1

“Nothing Is More Important Than Thinking Dialectically” by Grace Lee Boggs really highlights how different it is to be involved in social movements today. It introduces to the readers the two dimensions of thinking when looking at any contemporary issue. I found it interesting when Boggs urges to look at the sides of both the oppressor and the oppressed. It is intriguing because many people are quick to recognize the faults of the oppressor and of the oppressor only. However, Boggs also points out that today, the oppressed are in need of change as they continue to accept the oppressors’ values and messages in the media. Furthermore, what stood out in this reading was the importance of asking ourselves challenging questions. It’s easy to ask why others are targeting a group, but it is more difficult asking ourselves what we are doing that intentionally/unintentionally affect our local and global communities. For example the reading asked “What can we do to live simply so that others can simply live?” Although these methods of thinking are more difficult and complex (and will continue to get more complicated), it is important to acknowledge that construction of a successful social movement will be ever changing.

Question: If thinking dialectically works like Boggs claims it does, how did people in social movements before us think and process?