OPINIONS
ACTIVISM OR SAVIOURISM RAJASI LADDHA
12 | DESIGNED BY RACHEL PARK
opinions assisstant
With the continuous rise of activism in mainstream media, it is crucial to discern the difference between activism and saviorism and recognize the deeply ingrained savior mentality that middle-class and upper-class Americans and Europeans have adopted towards developing nations. The savior complex is a subset of performative activism, in which a person of privilege attempts to resolve an issue or conflict that they have little to no experience or knowledge about and forces a short-term solution that may cause more harm than good. Despite the term “white saviorism” from which the concept of saviors emerged, saviors are not always white in skin color, although the word is derived from the white savior complex. One’s national identity and other privileges, such as gender or sexual orientation, can also manifest a savior relationship. Author Teju Cole describes the savior complex as an ongoing reality for Africa, “From the colonial project to Out of Africa to The Constant Gardener and Kony 2012, Africa has provided a space onto which egos can conveniently be projected. It is a liberated space in which the usual rules do not apply: a nobody from America or Europe can go to Africa and become a godlike savior or, at the very least, have his or her emotional needs satisfied. Many have done it under the banner of making a difference.” As an activist, one needs to discern if they are attempting to solve an issue to satisfy their own emotional needs or create a permanent long-term impact on the said issue. The people impacted by the problems are real people going through hardships, not objects to manipulate to their benefit. These issues are not conquests for one to post on social media or use to ease their guilt. It has become
easier for people to share and blog about their mission trips or service projects with social media. Mission trips and Service projects have become increasingly problematic as their history and __ have come to light. These trips are a perfect representation of how savorism disguises itself as activism. Missionaries and colonizers worked hand in hand, leading to colonialism, genocide, and assimilation, all in the name of faith. Missionaries are often described in the past as heroes who bring salvation. Salvation to those in other countries who seem to desperately need their help according to them. The whole idea of a mission trip has been savorism from the start. Modern-day mission trips are influenced by the neoliberal, empowering ideology that suggests Americans can and should fix other countries’ problems in the name of service, progress, and faith. Many volunteers are trying to “do the right thing” and give back to those in need while completely ignoring the neocolonial undertones their work produces. As Flaherty explains in his book No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality, the mentality cannot exist without turning people into objects who need rescuing. Alongside the problem within mission trips, it has become easier for people to share and blog about their mission trips or service projects with social media. Most commonly, mission trips or service trip posts often talk about how the individual has learned so much throughout their journey. Through social media, the self-serving side of humanitarianism has become more and more apparent. The trip’s motivation and the person play an important role in distinguishing the difference between activism and saviorism. Generosity drives many young Americans and Europeans to volunteer in developing countries despite lacking the skills and qualifications. It is essential to realize that posting about personal growth on the said trip, while necessary, gives the impression that the trip was only to serve for personal development instead of
