Summary
Paragogy is Bayo Akomolafe’s name for unlearning as something that happens to a whole pattern of life at its edges, and not as something an individual achieves by effort. The philosopher set it out in a June 2025 post asking how we unlearn white supremacy. His answer is that we can’t, alone: learn the right words, attend a thousand workshops, and “still the weather does not change”, because white supremacy lives in institutions, cities and childhoods as much as in minds.
He calls paragogy “a learning at the edges of self”, and in place of ‘what do we do?’ asks how we might become more available to what is happening.
Rationale
Part 2 lists “Exploring unlearning and deconditioning” among possible approaches. Akomolafe’s post is the caution we’d attach: unlearning isn’t homework for individuals, so the practices we have in mind need to change surroundings too.