Jamaica Kincaid’s “On Seeing England for the First Time” is reflection on her youth in Antigua and the lasting impact it had on her. Because Antigua was a British colony, Kincaid and every other person inhabiting the island were taught just how great Britain truly is. Brits are well-mannered, had a rich history, and lived enviable lifestyles. The version of Britain that Kincaid learned about is heavily sanitized and far from the truth, but that does nothing to stop it from being permeated throughout Antigua’s consciousness. After all, the clear majority of Antiguans will never have the chance to visit England and see it for themselves. The power that the British Empire holds over the island allows them to essentially condition a new generation
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Though specific nations such as Antigua are victims of this, Wainaina makes it clear that the problem affects anyone who does not conform to a Western culture. When these people are not in an easily defined category, they are simply lumped together as if they were. Seeing as Africa is the second largest continent in the world, one would assume that it has a wide range of cultures stashed away in its many countries. Per the West, that is not so. As Wainaina says, “broad brushstrokes are good” (545). Of course, those brushstrokes paint a negative picture of Africa. Wainaina puts it bluntly when he warns to “never have a picture of a well-adjusted African” on a book about Africa (543). When westerners write about Africa, they continue to push the myth that it is a continent full of uncivilized people. That is not to say that there aren’t any naked or starving Africans, but the issue is that stories of the beleaguered Africans are the only ones that get told. The power held by western authors lend credence to their words. While Wainaina attacks the way, people write about Africa, he also says things to suggest that this false narrative is not repeated out of malice. Rather, it is to …show more content…
Because Africa is viewed as an uncivilized place, those who have the power, and are therefore more civilized, must take it upon themselves to fix what is broken. Wainaina makes a point to writers that Africa would be “doomed” without their assistance (544). It is prejudiced to believe negative stereotypes about a group of people, but those beliefs can be justified if they are true and a cause for help. Those with power justify the vilification of a culture by framing it as good deed; those who are civilized must do what they can to help those who are not. The authors Wainaina writes about, the people perpetuation these myths, are not even aware of what they are doing. He acknowledges that their intentions are not evil, but that they are instead falling victim to an unrealized Eurocentrism. Through this analysis, it becomes clear that power also allows the people of a nation to become unaware of the world they live
Though specific nations such as Antigua are victims of this, Wainaina makes it clear that the problem affects anyone who does not conform to a Western culture. When these people are not in an easily defined category, they are simply lumped together as if they were. Seeing as Africa is the second largest continent in the world, one would assume that it has a wide range of cultures stashed away in its many countries. Per the West, that is not so. As Wainaina says, “broad brushstrokes are good” (545). Of course, those brushstrokes paint a negative picture of Africa. Wainaina puts it bluntly when he warns to “never have a picture of a well-adjusted African” on a book about Africa (543). When westerners write about Africa, they continue to push the myth that it is a continent full of uncivilized people. That is not to say that there aren’t any naked or starving Africans, but the issue is that stories of the beleaguered Africans are the only ones that get told. The power held by western authors lend credence to their words. While Wainaina attacks the way, people write about Africa, he also says things to suggest that this false narrative is not repeated out of malice. Rather, it is to …show more content…
Because Africa is viewed as an uncivilized place, those who have the power, and are therefore more civilized, must take it upon themselves to fix what is broken. Wainaina makes a point to writers that Africa would be “doomed” without their assistance (544). It is prejudiced to believe negative stereotypes about a group of people, but those beliefs can be justified if they are true and a cause for help. Those with power justify the vilification of a culture by framing it as good deed; those who are civilized must do what they can to help those who are not. The authors Wainaina writes about, the people perpetuation these myths, are not even aware of what they are doing. He acknowledges that their intentions are not evil, but that they are instead falling victim to an unrealized Eurocentrism. Through this analysis, it becomes clear that power also allows the people of a nation to become unaware of the world they live