Within the problematic nature of race in the United States, Walter Mignolo in his article Citizenship, Knowledge, and the Limits of Humanity delves into the historical construction of "The Human" and "the citizen" within the European tradition, where these concepts were intertwined with notions of property and racial ideologies. This entanglement has perpetuated racial distinctions and hierarchies in the U.S.. Mignolo highlights the transformation of societal structures with the emergence of the concept of "citizenship," which was closely linked to secularism around North Europe. This shift from communities of faith to communities of birth did not dismantle pre-existing imperial and colonial differences; instead recasting them within the new…show more content… Advocating for a decolonial shift in understanding citizenship, humanity, and global belonging, Mignolo hopes to create a shift that acknowledges the diverse experiences and epistemologies of all peoples, rather than imposing a Eurocentric, racially biased framework. This decolonial approach is not only a critique of existing structures, but also a call for a more inclusive, equitable vision of global citizenship that transcends the colonial legacies of race and racism. Critically examining the nature of race and property within the U.S. context, highlights the colonial roots that define modern notions of citizenship and humanity. Mignolo links this emergence of citizenship to the nation-state's formation in secular Northern Europe. Emphasizing how this transition from communities of faith to communities of birth retained and repurposed imperial and colonial distinctions within the new Western empires. This historical backdrop is crucial for understanding the racial ideologies that persist today, as the figure of the "citizen" was predicated on an exclusionary idea of "The Human" which became a foundational element of the colonial matrix of
