reHUMANIZE is an ongoing exploration of what it means to truly see one another—not as abstractions, categories, or opponents, but as full, complex human beings.
We are all human. It’s the only thing we have in common. We spend our lives finding ways to separate ourselves.
– Bryan Stevenson
Session Discoveries
Each session is a step in an unfolding inquiry, revealing tensions, insights, and challenges in the work of reHUMANIZATION. While the full body of work remains in development, these brief reflections offer a glimpse into the themes that have emerged. We’re saving the bulk of our research for a future body of work, but here are some slivers of insight we’re gaining from our sessions exploring reHUMANIZATION.
The Illusion of Separation
Much of the world’s dehumanization happens not through overt harm, but through a failure to see. This session explored how belief systems, political structures, and personal assumptions reinforce distance, often convincing us that others are more different than they truly are. If rehumanization is the process of restoring sight, then the first step may be asking: What prevents us from seeing clearly?
The Shadows We Mistake for People
We often judge others not by who they are, but by the projections cast upon them. This session examined the ways we mistake assumptions for truth—how fear, bias, and labels obscure deeper understanding. Rehumanization asks: Are we reacting to a person, or to a distorted image we’ve created?