Friday, December 4, 2009

Colonization in A Small Place

In Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place, she presents the problem that Antigua is seen as a resort luxury resort by the outside world but, from the inside, and to its population, the current state of affairs in Antigua is a constant reminder of the British colonization in the island, that eventually led to the downfall of its economy and the current economical and societal struggles of the country.

In the opening chapter of the book Jamaica Kincaid addresses the reader as if they are a tourist visiting the country. Her feelings about European colonization are quickly recognized, she writes “You go through customs. Since you are a tourist, a North American or European—to be frank, white—and not an Antiguan black…you move through customs with ease. Your bags are not searched.” Kincaid quickly indicts Europeans and there visiting to Antigua. The irony to Kincaid is that these Europeans and white people were the ones who destroyed their country and now years later their ancestors are the ones who visit the country to exploit the beaches and ignore the social strife.

Much of Kincaid’s anger and resentment is aimed at America as well. Author Maria Helena Lima, writes “Americas are also to be understood as places of many continuous displacements: of the original pre-Columbian inhabitants, the Arawaks, Caribs, and Amerindians, permanently displaced from their homelands and decimated; of the slavery, colonization and conquest” (Lima, 60). Kincaid comments on modern colonization of Antigua by saying “They build condominiums that they sell (prices quoted in United States dollars) to North Americans and Europeans” (Kincaid, 62). It is easy to see here Kincaids feelings about how the colonization of centuries ago has carried over into a modern since, instead of building a colony of slaves like when the Europeans first touched Antigua, modern day colonization is occurring through the building of resorts and homes on the Antiguan beaches and ignoring the poverty and destruction of the actual Antiguan culture.

Also, Kincaid points out that the entirety of Antigua culture and government is run by the wealthy who ignore the poor. For example, Kincaid says “Banks are encouraged by the government to make loans available for cars, but loads for houses not so easily available” (Kincaid, 7). Kincaid is trying to point out that the colonization of the island has led to a society completely dominated by the wealthy.

Jamaica Kincaid finishes A Small Place by speaking of the strength of black people and specifically the descendents of slaves who were once corralled on the Antiguan islands. She calls them “noble and exalted people” (Kincaid, 81) . It is quite obvious that Kincaid’s feelings show the irony of the island of Antigua. Many of the residents of Antigua are descendents of slaves and many of those who choose to vacation and stay at resorts on Antigua, ignoring the poverty stricken countries innards, are descendents of those who sent slaves to Antigua. Jamaica Kincaid provides almost a call to arms, trying people to at least recognize the history of colonization and oppression in Antigua and to get the world to take notice that this is a country who is stricken with disaster and deficiency but all of that is ignored by the rest of the world in favor of it’s beautiful beaches and resorts.




Kincaid, Jamaica. A Small Place. Copyright 1988. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. New York City, NY.

Lima, Maria Helena. "Homelands in Jamaica Kincaid's Narratives of Development" Callaloo, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Summer, 2002), pp. 857-867