Engaging decolonial approaches to deracialize and humanize migrants

Area of Science:

• Community Psychology
• Sociology
• Decolonial Studies

Background:

• Current global events necessitate knowledge mobilization for liberation, wellbeing, and justice.
• Lived experiences and migration research inform the understanding of displacement's impacts.
• Historical contexts of colonization and imperialism profoundly shape current self/other perceptions and intergroup dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the profound impacts of displacement, termed 'rootshock,' stemming from migration.
• To underscore the vital role of community psychology in analyzing and addressing these impacts.
• To advocate for engagement with decolonial frameworks to understand and counteract enduring colonial legacies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis integrating lived experience and migration research.
• Theoretical commentary drawing on decolonial theory and critical psychology.
• Exploration of historical and ongoing impacts of colonization and imperialism.

Main Results:

• Displacement due to migration causes significant 'rootshock,' affecting individuals and communities.
• Community psychology offers essential tools for understanding the multifaceted impacts of displacement.
• Decoloniality, as a framework, is crucial for dismantling oppressive structures and fostering justice.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the rootshock of displacement requires a decolonial approach that acknowledges historical injustices.
• Expanding knowledge and practice ecologies is essential for building critical solidarities.
• Community psychology must actively engage with decoloniality to promote liberation, wellbeing, and justice.