ABSTRACT
This chapter contextualizes the significance of one of the core ideas around literacy education advanced in this book, decolonial thinking, by providing an overview of coloniality and decoloniality. It begins by differentiating between colonization and coloniality before breaking down everyday examples of coloniality through concrete examples. It explains colonial zero-point by using a Harry Potter example; the Western Cultural Archive through the Müller-Lyer illusion; and the coloniality of power through popular educational approaches like ‘broken windows,’ No Excuses, and Teach Like a Champion. The chapter goes on to explore how we can be epistemically disobedient by engaging in decolonial thinking that is critical in our analysis of praxis and active in identifying instances of decoloniality in our daily practices. It cautions readers to not equate decolonial thinking with social justice, nor to water it down as a buzz phrase. The chapter ends with questions to reflect upon when considering coloniality, as well as resources to continue to learn more about coloniality and decoloniality.
