Welcome back to the Black Liberation Tech podcast! I’m your host, Dr. Renee Jordan. In today’s episode, "Do the I's Have It: Presenting & Defending Diverse Perspectives on the Same Phenomena," we delve into the significance of examining data through multiple philosophical lenses.

Introduction and Context:

• Recap of attending, presenting, and serving as a discussant at the 2018 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Mexico City.
• Focus on the presentation titled "Do the I's Have It? Using Ubuntu's 'We' and Descartes' 'I' to Examine Pedagogical Engagements."

Conference Highlights:

• Presentation during the Indigenous Knowledge and the Academy SIG round-table session.
• Serving as a discussant for the ICT4D SIG Research Track.

Exploring Philosophical Perspectives:

• Challenge presented by Dr. Fournillier to analyze data using both Ubuntu’s collective philosophy and Descartes’ individualistic approach.
• The dual analysis aimed to compare Ubuntu ("I am because we are"), an African philosophy, with Descartes’ ("I think therefore I am"), a Western philosophy.

Significance of Diverse Philosophies:

• Importance of considering different philosophical perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of data.
• Encountering and addressing challenges to using non-Western philosophies in academic research.
• Defense of using Ubuntu in analyzing data relevant to Black or African-American participants.

Key Takeaways from the Round Table Discussion:

• Interaction with a participant challenging the applicability of Ubuntu, an African philosophy, to African-American students in an urban American setting.
• Response centered on the validity and necessity of using diverse perspectives, particularly for Afrocentric research.
• Support and recognition from other attendees for the approach and arguments presented.

Encouragement for Researchers:

• Inspiration to explore and apply non-mainstream philosophies in research.
• Juxtaposition of different philosophical lenses to uncover varied insights on the same phenomenon.
• Highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in enriching academic discourse.

Role as a Discussant:

• Enjoyment and benefits of engaging with peers’ work, asking questions, and providing constructive feedback.
• Importance of discussions in refining research and exploring new ideas.

Networking and Cultural Experience:

• Meeting and connecting with various attendees at the conference.
• Exploring Mexico City, including historic sites, pyramids, and cultural experiences with conference peers.

Advice for Conference Submissions:

• Encouragement to submit to conferences and consider round-table discussions for a more informal and interactive presentation experience.
• Comparison of round-table discussions with paper presentations and poster sessions.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Black Liberation Tech podcast. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and review the podcast to help it reach more listeners. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!