The Most Important Sentence - January

The Most Important Sentence

               One sentence that stood out to me in particular from our course readings was derived from Ann Russo's work Transformative Silences, within the chapter titled Between Speech and Silence: Reflections on Accountability. The sentence, which marks the beginning of the chapter's conclusion, reads "the question for me is how to critically interrogate the tensions between speech and silence without making myself into the righteous one, the all-knowing one, and the morally superior one" (Russo). This is a sentence that holds value for all individuals, but especially who may find ourselves forgetting to allow room for, respect, and truly listen to the voices of others.

               This single, particular sentence manages to accomplish many feats within its confines. Firstly, it acknowledges and draws attention to the existence of tensions between speech and silence - a concept that many have yet to consider within their personal communication and day-to-day interactions. The excerpt highlights the importance of committing to a genuine understanding of the role of speech, and who your speech impacts - both for better and for worse. It emphasizes that one should learn to recognize when speech can be inadvertently harmful to those around you, regardless of intentions. This sentence also illuminates the often underestimated role of silence in varied contexts within the realm of communication. To properly communicate within different spaces is to utilize the tool of silence appropriately, and to understand its significance in the social world.

               Secondly, the sentence refers to the fallacious tendency to assume a role of authority beyond our boundaries. It can be difficult to recognize one's own position and how others are going to perceive this position, yet this insight is crucial in communicating effectively in the world around you and in establishing positive relationships and alliances. It is equally important to reign yourself in, and analyze whether you are truly the proper authority and are successfully helping the cause you care about, or if you are, in all actuality, overstepping your authoritative boundaries at the expense of others and unintentionally acting counter-productively to your cause.

               I feel that the 2002 INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence program embodies the essence of the powerful sentence that I chose to analyze. The program, referenced within Russo's aforementioned work, aimed to create a women-of-color centered space. It is essential that all individuals are able to advocate and express without feeling overpowered in voice and authority. The following link details the event, its goals, and its impact: http://incite-national.org/sites/default/files/incite_files/resource_docs/4312_cov2-offourbacks-mayjune2002.pdf