Learning Unlearning: Deja Tu Huella: Youth Art And Unlearning In Colombia

Abstract

We are all on a journey of learning and unlearning. I’ve always heard that it’s more difficult to re-teach a student a concept once they’ve learned it incorrectly - and I think the same is true for unlearning. We are creatures of habit, and must make a deliberate effort to do this type of work. Who will lead the charge? If Colombia is any indication, it’s the youth who will continue to push global societies to unlearn. Just as it was here in the United States and around the world during the Black Lives Matter summer protests of 2020, youth are the catalysts for unlearning - and often, art is their medium. One of my favorite concepts that I gleaned from this experience is the idea of Deja Tu Huella. In Latin American cultures, this phrase embraces the action of pushing boundaries with your unique individuality and translates to “leave your mark” in English. One of the youth art exhibits I witnessed was entitled Deja Tu Huella and featured youth contributions of what they hoped to see in Colombia’s future - perhaps their own contributions to the betterment of society. I love the specificity and action-oriented nature of this phrase, and it seems to be fairly embedded in the fabric of Latin American cultures. What could be more profound than doing the hard work of unlearning and passing that on, thereby leaving your mark for the greater wellbeing of society?