“Ain’t I Got a Right to the Tree of Life?”: Examining Special Education through the Application of Afro-Humanity”
“The African baobab tree is a noteworthy species found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is distinctive due to its size and lifespan. Moreover, it is exceptional because of the way in which it grows multi-fused stems and the way in which its bark grows in between these stems, which provides an appearance that is unique to the baobab tree. The application of Western knowledge of typical growth patterns of trees may lead one to describe the baobab tree as “awkward” or “physically deformed.”
Yet, the African baobab tree is also heralded as the “tree of life,” due to its multifaceted uses and its ability to produce fruit during arid and dry seasons. Similar to the baobab tree, many marginalized disabled students also face the consequences of socially constructed notions of able-bodied normalcy and the subversion of their cultural identities. The intersection of these concurrent marginalized identities has led to their overrepresentation within special education classrooms in the US and abroad. In our analysis, the metaphor of the tree of life represents the significance of ensuring that the philosophical perspectives of disabilities include culturally specific frameworks – particularly those grounded in an African ethos. We also advocate for the development of praxis that will ensure the implementation of pedagogies that are in concert with the cultural mores of Black families and children, while also increasing access to quality education.
Therefore, we believe that acknowledging the complexities of intersectional and cultural knowledge ensures that persons of all abilities will have a right to the tree of life.”
