Context
Knowledge of eugenics has been silenced, hidden, and treated as insignificant. It has also been removed from sites of knowledge production. Yet, marginalized knowledge has become a powerful tool for activism. In this video, Peter Park uses song and imagery to represent his experience behind a cell door. Park’s song is called “Eternal Dreamer” and the image of the cell is called “D Ward.” “D Ward” is a graphite sketch by Sue Hutton with direction from Park. This image is a visual depiction of Park’s experience in the detention ward at the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock, Ontario. The sketch shows a room with no windows. There is a drain in the middle of the floor. A body is lying on the ground next to the drain. Amidst the hurtful and exclusionary ideas of eugenics, Park’s knowledge is celebrated and acknowledged for the ways it counters eugenic ideas and practices.
Eternal Dreamer — Lyrics by Peter Park
I know I’m the eternal dreamer, but with my dreaming comes hope.
True inclusion.
We’re all working together towards one common goal.
Dignity, Respect, Inclusion
When I was in D-Ward I dreamed I would get out. I haven’t stopped dreaming. I will continue to dream.
Anything that’s negative, I want to change that to a positive. To a positive.
Dignity, Respect, Inclusion
Dignity, Respect, Inclusion
[Back up vocals] True inclusion. True inclusion. True inclusion. True inclusion.
We are all in this together. We all belong. I encourage everyone to tell their story. Even though it may be painful.
I know I’m the eternal dreamer, and with dreaming, there’s hope.
We’re all working together towards one common goal. True inclusion. We all belong.
Dignity, Respect, Inclusion
Dignity, Respect, Inclusion
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