The Liberatory Reconnection Collective
Dear Reader,
How often do you find yourself measuring your worth against someone else? Noticing who has more power, status, or approval? It’s subtle, like a passing thought or a quiet judgment as we glance around the room. We all do it, but have you ever wondered where that instinct comes from, and who it really serves?
I used to think supremacy was about race. But the more I examined it, the more I saw it show up everywhere—in body size, appearance, social circles, ability or skill, and even in how we treat non-human living beings.
Sometimes, it looks like believing we’re ‘better’ than someone else because of our job title, our education, our appearance, or how we move through the world. It’s embedded in how we value thinness over fatness, youth over age, certain accents over others, and even humans over nature. It keeps us fragmented, competitive, and isolated.
Let’s unpack that.
At its core, supremacy is the belief that a person, group, or living creature is inherently “better” or “more valuable” than another. It’s a mindset rooted in hierarchy and domination, upheld by capitalism, colonization, and other forms of systemic oppression. Its subtler forms shape our daily lives—impacting how we relate to ourselves, each other, and the world.
Supremacy thrives by keeping us insecure. It convinces us that worth is conditional—that we must always be better than someone else to deserve respect, security, or belonging. This fuels an endless loop of comparison, where our value is tied to external validation: our productivity, appearance, or social status. And in this cycle, connection takes a back seat to competition.
When we internalize supremacy, we lose more than connection; we lose a sense of wholeness. Supremacy keeps us trapped in cycles of comparison, shame, and fear: disconnecting us from ourselves (by tying our worth to achievement), from others (by seeing them as rivals or threats), and from the Earth (by treating it as disposable).
This disconnection harms everyone (even those who benefit from systems of power). It creates isolation, burnout, and a profound sense of scarcity that is never truly satisfied. Unlearning supremacy is not just about dismantling oppressive systems; it’s about reclaiming our humanity and our capacity for deep connection.
So what happens if we step away from the need to be ‘better than’? What if we measured our worth not by comparison, but knew in our bones that we are worthy, just for existing?
The first step? Noticing. Noticing when supremacy shows up in our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships. When we notice, we make space for choice. Rather than judging and comparing ourselves to others, there’s an opportunity to validate their humanity and worth alongside our own.
Unlearning supremacy is not an individual task—it’s a collective practice. It requires us to shift not just our thoughts, but how we show up in relationships, in leadership, and in community. Supremacy teaches us to see separation where there is none. The truth is, we are deeply interconnected—to each other, to the Earth, and to generations before and after us.
The systems that uphold supremacy rely on us never questioning them. But when we start to notice—when we pause before making that comparison, when we choose connection over competition—that’s when we begin to shift. As we unlearn supremacy, we create space for deeper connection—to ourselves, to each other, and to the Earth. We begin to see our worth as inherent, not comparative. We learn to honor the wisdom of collaboration over competition. We build communities rooted in justice, reciprocity, and care.
When we unlearn supremacy, we don’t just challenge oppressive systems—we make space for something new: belonging, reciprocity, and shared liberation.
Thanks for reading to the end. I’m curious – how does this land? Hit reply on this email, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
In solidarity and with care,
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