Professor Derrick Bell of New York University Law School is famous for, among other work, the “interest convergence” theory: that white people will support racial justice only to the extent that there is something in it for them. That is, only to the extent that there is a “convergence” between the interests of the white people and racial justice. Perhaps the best-known application of this thesis involves the 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education: the idea is that the Supreme Court supported Brown because it served the United States’ cold war agenda of supporting human rights. Moreover, it was a decision that was largely imposed (in Bell’s picture) on the south by people in the north. Thus, the interests of those who were devising the decision converged with the interests of the black plaintiffs ( Alfred Bophry , 2008 ) .
The application of this theory remains very much a part of the political landscape in New Zealand; my motherland and my standing place. The "Crown" or the British Empire have for many years oppressed portions of my people in certain tribal lands. For example, my grandmother was uprooted from our native tribal lands to the more urban areas of New Zealand because the Government said that the land they were living on was prone to floods and out of safety they needed to move into the city. Those who refused to leave the tribal lands, were murdered, burnt or taken as prisoners. The land however was used as retirement estates for English colonizers coming from Great Britain, and now they are worth millions as diary production farms. My grandmother was asked to leave under a false premise that the "crown" were in fact looking out for their best interests when in all reality they served only their selfish interests for development and further expansion of the British Empire. The intention of this post is not in any way a stab at the colonizers but more an example of the application of the "interest Convergence" theory developed by an American , Derrick Bell.
I have attached a short Youtube clip that may aid in giving context and a visual representation of what my people are experiencing this very moment in New Zealand. This video contains representatives from her Majesty the Queen, the Governor General and Prime Minister as well as other tribunal officials who have come to my family lands to settle grievances with the "Crown".
I apologize if for any reason this video disturbs you, this is not my intention
Please note: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS INDIGENOUS NUDITY
This is interesting. Imperialism still greatly impacts those whose land was taken from them. I wonder what New Zealand would look like had the Crown not overtaken it? Interesting thought.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder about that as well. The impact of imperialism in my opinion is both a "Blessing and a Curse".
ReplyDeleteWhile it is interesting to read in the news about the lasting effects of imperialism, the story of Ra's grandmother had a much deeper effect on me. It is sad that there are people still living with the effects of imperialism, and are just trying to have their voices heard. I try to put myself in Ra's grandmother's shoes, and I can certainly understand her anger and frustration. I know when something unfair happens to me, and the feelings that it brings, but the things that have happened to me are nothing in comparison to losing your home and your land! While I agree with Ra that imperialism is both a blessing and a curse, hopefully some of the wrongs against the people of New Zealand will be resolved and made right. Thanks for writing about your family's experiences, Ra!
ReplyDeleteIs this a racial or a purely greed issue? At first the story sounds like the Native Americans, with the colonists kicking them out of their lands because they "weren't using it fully." But the colonists moved the Indians further away from white civilization because they didn't want them "mixing" with the whites.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ra's story, it looks like the crown moved the citizens to the cities so they could simply use their land for their profit, because of their greed, not their hatred of New Zealanders. But if they believe they can kick people out of their lands then they must feel they are superior enough to do that. And this is 2010, the crown has to know if not from history than from modern ways of communication and getting the minority's voice heard that dislocation is awful and unfair. Are they past racist attitudes and fully into greed-driven ones, even to the point of dehumanizing people to get them off their lands? Or is the racism removed and only greed remains?