Oppression and Rebellion: A Study of Caribbean Colonial Influence

1089 Words3 Pages

Through the era of colonization, several powerful European countries like France and Great Britain colonized the Caribbean Islands. On account of the Europeans settlement in these beautiful islands, they established a different cultural system among the Caribbean population. After the Independence of the Caribbean land mass, a conflict between civilians occurred as the leaders have changed, this change created an unjust, and a cruel exercise of authority among many innocent citizens. Edwidge Danticat’s novel, Krik? Krak!, and Austin Clarke’s text, Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack, illustrate oppression of a higher authority towards lower people. The social performance of inserting restrictions on an individual is a pitiless action. Pressure is a part of oppression. Danticat’s novel, Krik? Krak!, the Macoute …show more content…

This group is a semi-militarized force that follows an organizational structure, and receives training that is similar to a professional military. Although, this military is not a part of a state’s formal armed forces. Dictator Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier created the operation. In opposing place, a group of youth federation is revolting against Duvalier’s military. However, a small group of the youth federation organizes meetings between them, they rebel against the Macoutes, they put slogans, and their strongest desire: they want Papa Doc to vanish in his superior position. The people of the state of Port-Au-Prince feel that “they are always watching you, like vultures” (Danticat, 8). Clarke’s text, Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack, a boy named Clarke was admitted to Combermere School, it is a secondary school in Barbados. When he got accepted to

Show More
Related

  • The Farming Of Bones Sparknotes

    1444 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel deals with the pain and pleasure of the past and present and how that effects the identity construction of an individual. The ethnic/racial identity of an individual can be influences by the complexities of a post-colonial society filled with social clashes, inferiority, and the othering of individuals. The novel focuses on the Haitians who have migrated to the Dominican Republic to escape poverty but are still alienated and devalued because of their poor economical conditions. By migrating to the Dominican Republic and crossing the boundary between the two countries they are symbolically being marked as ‘other’ and seen as ‘inferior’ by

    Read More

  • British Imperial Policies and Colonial Resistance

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    A new era was dawning on the American colonies and its mother country Britain, an era of revolution. The American colonists were subjected to many cruel acts of the British Parliament in order to benefit England itself. These British policies were forcing the Americans to rebellious feelings as their rights were constantly being violated by the British Crown. The colonies wanted to have an independent government and economy so they could create their own laws and stipulations. The British imperial policies affected the colonies economic, political, and geographic situation which intensified colonists’ resistance to British rule and intensified commitment to their republican values.

    Read More

  • Colonial Rebellion

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    The colonies did not initially desire to succeed and become independent from the British, at first they were very proud of being British. Throughout the years of being a British Colony, The mother country of Britain committed actions that the colonists could not stand much longer. From taxation without representation to quartering British soldiers unwillingly, the tension built up until the colonists eventually rebelled. Some colonists remained loyal to the crown, while others joined the rebellion. These rebellious forces grew in strength and number, when the rebellion grew too big, the Revolution sparked. No longer would the colonist be forced to the British law, the colonists were willing to fight and die for their freedom. This event was

    Read More

  • The Creoles: Spain's Struggle For Independence

    480 Words  | 1 Pages

    Until the early 1800’s, Spain created an empire that lasted around three hundred years and was considered “the most powerful country in Europe” (Mini Q). During the late 18th century, the Spanish colonies had an uncompromising social structure to which people were placed in different classes based on their heritage. The Creoles, people born in the colonies but of pure Spanish blood, lead the fight in the struggle for independence because of the economic and social conditions as well as the attempt to gain political power.

    Read More

  • Abeng by Michelle Cliff and Mistreated Women of the Carribean

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Caribbean regional colonial imperialism produced institutions and movements that deeply affected and continue to affect the lives of Caribbean women. Caribbean women’s literature represents sexual violence and the ideological appropriation of gender identity, gender roles, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and culture and class. The impressionable and forming years of an individual are too often controlled by what society feels correct is based on gender, race and culture. Although one may not behave as their society feels is appropriate, in no way should this result in making someone feel less or wrong because they are of color, female and strong-minded.

    Read More

  • Colonialism In The Haitian Revolution

    1628 Words  | 4 Pages

    French occupation of Haiti began in the mid seventeenth century. For the next century and a half, the people of Haiti were forced to abandon their livelihoods and instead take up residence on namely sugar, indigo or cacao plantations in order to generate exports for the French market. Conditions on these plantations were often so cruel and oppressive that the common cause of death was exhaustion. No longer able to yield to the terms of their exploitation, Haitians participated in a string of slave revolts, the most prominent of which was led by Toussaint Louverture from 1791, which paved the road for Haitian emancipation. This essay will advance the idea that colonialism has impeded the political stability of Haiti during the nineteenth century, particularly from when Haiti formally declared independence in 1804. It will cover how issues such as; despotism, conflicting economic institutions, the militarization of the political system and racial supremacy, have negatively affected nineteenth century Haitian politics. Moreover, it will also elaborate on how these issues are, in effect, actually insidious derivatives of French rule during pre-independent Haiti.

    Read More

  • Colonial Oppression: Native Americans and Africans (1492-1700)

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    Native Americans were abused by Spanish officials when the Spanish invaded their lands. In an attempt to control the attacks of the Native Americans, they enlisted fear into the minds of the Indians.

    Read More

  • Language and Racial Identity in Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    Patrick Chamoiseau’s Texaco is a captivating novel that traces the history of Martinique from the time it was a slaveholding French colony to its present status as a part of France. Primarily narrated by the personal stories of Marie-Sophie Laborieux and her father, Esternome, Texaco provides a personal and communal record of the black experience in Martinique that a traditional record of history could not provide. Marie-Sophie’s narrative exposes the book’s main theme: language. The book then presents a dichotomy between the residents of Martinique. On one hand, the French language and government structure represents European beliefs in logic and order while the Creole’s beliefs are largely based on magic, allusion, and cultural traditions. There is also a dichotomy between Mulatto (European) French and Creole French, creating an even more polarizing divide between the island’s white settlers and black inhabitants. The 400 page novel is divided into four sections called Ages: The Age of Straw (1823-1920), The Age of Crate Wood (1903-1945), The Age of Asbestos (1946-1960), and the Age of Concrete (1961-1980). Chronologically, Esternome’s journey resembles the migration of former slaves: from St. Pierre, to working in factories, and finally in the city of Fort-de-France. Additionally, the materials also follow the advancement of the peoples from slavery to functioning civilization, and the materials provide security and solidarity in a place such as Ninon. All in all, the book explores the political importance of language and its relation to racial identity in Martinique through the personal narratives of Chamoiseau’s imagined characters.

    Read More

  • Britain's Black Debt by Professor Sir Hilary McD. Beckles

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    The content of this manuscript is precisely reflective of the definition of Caribbean that is seen today.

    Read More

  • The Power of One and Pocahontas

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    The historical attempts of Europeans to claim lands that are not their own and forcibly take them from previous owners have created a repeated scenario of fierce conflict between the colonizers and the colonized. This scenario is seen so often in history that it has become a sort of universal theme, a fact not missed by writers and filmmakers. In both The Power of One and Pocahontas, the colonization of an existing culture creates tension between the colonizers and the colonized. This tension creates prejudice, and the prejudice often manifests itself in violence, whether it is the violence of a culture acting on their prejudices or the violence of a culture responding to the prejudice of another. The former, as well as the prejudice itself, is a part of the post-colonial theme of Othering; the latter is a part of the theme of Anti-Colonial Resistance. To explore these themes further, I will use my previous examples, The Power of One and Pocahontas, to show that the tension caused by colonization often affects cultures in a similar manner.

    Read More

  • Jamaica: History, Government, People, Religion

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    15.     Burton, Richard D.E. Afro-Creole: Power, Opposition and Play in the Caribbean. (1997). Cornell University Press.

    Read More

  • The Lawless Person Justice Scheme

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ricans accept from financial, psychological, political and communal exploitation at the hands of strong Whites in this homeland. As an conclusion of this exploitation, very dark persons generally are put into positions where the ascribe of a lawless person proceed is often glimpsed as the most creative tenacity to their problems. Most Caucasians, whereas, will expected not ever recognize the predicament in which most very dark find themselves. Thieved from our homeland and then compelled to work under the saddest situation imaginable. African American not paid any money and kept in slavery of distinct types and newest tendencies up to this very day. Very dark individuals have been under the unchanging order of whites since approaching into this homeland. Today, white America’s most productive means of keeping that order is through the lawless person fairness scheme.

    Read More

  • A breath of freedom releasing

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    These European Influences are the cause of Guy’s displeasure and thirst for more. The hard two-caste system divides Haiti so definitively that it leaves no room for the poor to...

    Read More

  • Should Immigrants that Cross the Bahamas Borders Illegally be Granted Citizenship?

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fielding, W. J., Ballance, V., Scriven, C., & Johnson, T. M. (2008). The Stigma of Being "Haitian" in The Bahamas. The College of The Bahamas Research Journal, 14, 38-50. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://researchjournal.cob.edu.bs

    Read More

  • Transfection Of Power In The Kingdom Of This World By Alejo Carpentier

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier is a historical fiction book focusing on the Haitian revolutionary period. This time period proved to be the perfect opportunity for Carpentier to address the motif of power, the control it has over people and that of transformation. The book pushes these along throughout the pages. The exploitation of power in The Kingdom of This World have a few separate outlets. These come in the form of physical, including sexual, economic, and intelectual, as in knowledge. Through the use of power, various persons in the book experience transformation in a variety of ways. There is physical transformation, political, cultural, and spiritual. This story begins and ends with abuse of power, and in a very real

    Read More

More about Oppression and Rebellion: A Study of Caribbean Colonial Influence

Open Document