In this predecessor to Glossary of Haunting, Eve Tuck criticizes the metaphorical use of the term "decolonization" in ways besides reparations for Indigenous peoples. She recognizes that, even though some uses of "decolonization" shift focus from settler perspectives (i.e. saying "decolonize our schools" or "decolonize student thinking"), they sometimes don't focus on actual decolonization, which therefore maintains centering settler guilt and complicity as a "move toward innocence". Using examples from education, human rights, and social justice initiatives, Tuck & Yang argue break down metaphorical "decolonization" and other abolitionist pedagogies to potentially forge more meaningful, informed alliances.
"When metaphor invades decolonization, it kills the very possibility of decolonization; it recenters whiteness, it resettles theory, it extends innocence to the settler, it entertains a settler future. Decolonize (a verb) and decolonization (a noun) cannot easily be grafted onto pre-existing discourses/frameworks, even if they are critical, even if they are anti-racist, even if they are justice frameworks... decolonization doesn't have a synonym."
*"An ethic of incommensurability, which guides moves that unsettle innocence, stands in contrast to aims of reconciliation, which motivate settler moves to innocence. Reconciliation is about rescuing settler normalcy, about rescuing a settler future.Reconciliation is concerned with questions of ...
What will decolonization look like? What will happen after abolition? What will be the consequences of decolonization for the settler?
Incommensurability acknowledges that these questions need not, and perhaps cannot, be answered in order for decolonization to exist as a framework. We want to say, first, that decolonization is not obliged to answer those questions -decolonization is not accountable to settlers, or settler futurity. Decolonization is accountable to Indigenous sovereignty and futurity. Still, we acknowledge the questions of those wary participants in Occupy Oakland and other settlers who want to know what decolonization will require of them. The answers are not fully in view and can’t be as long as decolonization remains punctuated by metaphor. The answers will not emerge from friendly understanding, and indeed require a dangerous understanding of uncommonality that un-coalesces coalition politics - moves that may feel very unfriendly. But we will find out the answers as we get there."*