September 12, 2016 - 14:30
As I read “Slipping”, the idea that resonated the most with me was the essay’s view on how we should think of these slips. Instead of vilifying people for their political incorrectness or ignoring it on the grounds that it’s an honest mistake, the best course of action is to treat the slip as a signal that there is still work to be done. I have written in my previous essays for this course about how social injustice does not disappear if we just ignore our differences, as those who advocate for “colorblindness” seem to suggest. Likewise, in this essay, it is clear that ignoring slips creates missed opportunities to effect positive change. This was probably my main takeaway, that mistakes can be of value, and should be recognized for their significance in larger conversations about privilege and oppression.