Mediation Musings: Othering, Us, Belonging
Sara Barnes
The idea of othering as a verb has been advanced by Professor john a. powell, founder of the Othering and Belonging Institute at University of California, Berkeley. According to powell, “Othering is not about liking or disliking someone. It is based on the conscious or unconscious assumption that a certain identified group poses a threat…. Overwhelmingly, people don’t 'know’ those that they are Othering.”
Today, within the Vineyard’s year-round population is a large percentage, possibly up to 30 percent, of residents with Brazilian heritage. These individuals and families contribute significantly to the local economy, fill essential service roles, and add richness to the island’s cultural landscape. In our role as a conflict resolution community-centric organization, we have worked hard to invite Brazilian islanders to make use of our services. With Portuguese speakers on our staff and a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the core of our mission, we are proud that our organization has enacted the opposite of othering for those with Brazilian roots.
We have handled cases, though, where the attitude from non-Brazilians has been less than welcoming. In our yearly needs assessment process, where we review unresolved conflict resolution needs, we have uncovered racism and marginalization of the Brazilians who live here, by those who may consider members of the group as “others.”
In October, when staff member Paula Reidbord and Pricila Vilaca came up with the idea of Brazil Fest, building on an idea that originated with the MV Mediation Community Advisory Board, it was a dream that seemed unlikely, though exciting. Nine months later, our newly formed Building Bridges Coalition is birthing a festival that we hope will help to create a placemark in the calendar to celebrate the Martha’s Vineyard Brazilian residents’ culture and contributions.
On June 16, when hundreds of Brazilians and non-Brazilians celebrate Brazil Fest together at the Ag Hall, it is our sincere hope that divisions between groups can be bridged, and we can do away with the other and replace it with belonging that endures. I’d like to learn a bit of Portuguese––would you, too? Here are two Portuguese phrases that seem appropriate:
Todos pertencemos. Unidos somos mais fortes!
We all belong. Together we are stronger!
Read a longer version of this Mediator Musings essay here.