The Power of the Word

[guerillablack]

Have anyone ever read this article by Clinton Cox. It talks about the power of the word. It basically talks about how the oppressor/conquerer(namely europeans) use the power of the word to systemically break down a peoples. IE, those who opprss have always used words to jusitify their oppression, thereby determining who shall profit in any given society and who shall be oppressed. He says words cannot change reality, but they can change our perception of reality and perception is what people act on.

I agree whole-heartedly and wanted to know if their is any other information on this because i want to write an article just like it but a tad more detailed. How you lose power of your destiny by letting others define who you are, with examples.

[FeArANDLoAtHiNg]

I think I see what you mean, but you're not implying that words alone are enough to allow opression?

[guerillablack]

Look at the example of the black man in America. This is a very systematic form of oppression. Words(law) were of important use here. Through words, Blacks were taught to be 3/5s of human beings, and 2/5's beast. Through words(defining blacks) the whites justified slavery. Through words and laws, whites were able to continue to hold blacks in a mental, economic and social slavery even after the emmancipation.

[Spartacus2002]

Words can cause or alleviate oppression just look at eastern europe in world war two, had the pope condemned the slaughter of jews the german backed lithaunian and polish anti-jewish death squads would have stopped because they were catholics.

[guerillablack]

However, it is easy to cause oppression with words than to alleviate oppression with words, i believe. Do you think not?

[Raisa]

I agree.

[guerillablack]

As you should.