“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

            In the age of postmodernity, metanarratives no longer serve us. Lyotard who describes postmodernity as “incredulity toward metanarratives,” argues that we currently have trouble conforming to a single narrative. We are an era of eclecticism, compromised of several diverse perspectives, backgrounds, walks of life, and realities. In the pre modern and modern world, humans would prescribe to a grand narrative such as Christianity, the Enlightenment, and even the American Dream. Now we question these narratives, deconstruct them, and also look for alternative ones. Lyotard believes that in postmodernity we should continue challenging these narratives and incorporate micronarratives that are more inclusive, comprehensive, and diverse.

            I realize that in our generation, we are losing faith in the American dream and all that it promises. We are aware of the myth of meritocracy, which declares that success, wealth, and achievement can all be accomplished through talent and ability. However, this idea that hard work will grant you social, economic and political mobility is no longer one we subscribe to. We realize that there are systemic barriers and structural biases that advantage some while marginalize others. We are beginning to address these issues and proclaim that our differences and diversity should be used as a tool of empowerment, rather than an obstacle to a homogenous society.

Audre Lorde famously quoted in one of her poems, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” During a feminist conference, she gave the address “The Master’s Tools will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” in which she argued that white feminists were using the same tools of the patriarchy to oppress women of color. She stated that in order to achieve true equality women needed to recognize their differences and learn how to make them strengths. So when Lyotard asserts, “let us wage a war on totality” I understand what he means. By recognizing our differences in regards to race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexuality, ability and other identities, we may able to dismantle the inequalities and injustices that  are both systemically and socially pervasive in our society. Lyotard’s final words also resonate with me: “let us be witnesses to the unpresentable; let us activate the differences and save the honor of the name.”