The Right to Ask Questions

Sor Juana's fundamental assertion was her right to question—to examine scripture, challenge interpretations, and pursue curiosity without apologizing. Colonial systems typically restrict the questioning capacity of subordinated peoples, positioning them as recipients of knowledge rather than producers or interrogators of it. In postcolonial decolonization, reclaiming the right to ask questions represents a foundational epistemic shift. This concept rejects the colonial silencing of curiosity and establishes inquiry itself as a decolonial practice. When postcolonial peoples ask questions about history, identity, power, and knowledge, they engage in the creative work of worldmaking. Sor Juana modeled how questioning can be framed as intellectual and spiritual responsibility rather than arrogance or heresy. This framework empowers communities to interrogate colonial narratives, investigate suppressed histories, and construct new understandings rooted in their own critical engagement.