Social Problems In George Lamming's In The Castle Of My Skin

In the Castle of My Skin George Lamming’s, In the Castle of My Skin, is an autobiographical reflection of his childhood and adolescent years while living in Carrington Village, Barbados. At the surface, this work may seem to be a simple account of Lamming’s day to day experiences. However, a closer look reveals the undeniable social problems perpetuated, by British colonial rule. The themes within Lamming’s life story resonates with the work of world renowned scholars such as Hannah Ardent, Michael Hanchard, and W.E.B. DuBois. The words of George Lamming’s mother open the autobiography as she sheds light on the “shower of blessings bought about by his ninth birthday” (Lamming 1). However, George cannot help but notice that this special day

After the flood, the landlord of Carrington Village inspects the vicinity. Lamming pays special attention to the reverence all of the villagers have for the inspector and he begins to highlight the role of the village overseer within the social hierarchy. The village overseers were tasked with “patrolling the lands at all hours of the day” (Lamming 26). George notes the “tense relationship between the overseer and the ordinary villager” (Lamming 26). When the landlord accuses “the overseers of conniving, of slackening on the job” the overseers crack down on the villagers in an “authoritarian” manner (Lamming 26). The landlord and the overseer believe that their “enemy” is what Lamming describes as “my people” (Lamming 27). The higher powers demonized black villagers and this stemmed from the subconscious belief that white people were superior to blacks. George Lamming sheds light on the fact that the overseer’s hostile disposition towards the villagers further perpetuated the stereotype that black villagers were “low-down nigger people [who]…don’t like to see their people get on”. The overseer nor the inspector ever made an effort to disprove their feelings toward black people so their experiences only reaffirmed their racist beliefs. Michael Hanchard’s article, “Contours of Black Political Thought: An

The primary purpose of Empire Day was to celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth. All of the students and faculty dress in their finest clothes to welcome the inspector. During his speech, the inspector assures the audience that “she [Queen Victoria] was your queen and my queen and yours no less than mine” (Lamming 38). The inspector calls for “loyalty to the Empire” and assures the students that the British Empire “has always worked for the peace of the world”. The inspector concludes his speech with the statement “Barbados is truly Little England”. These demands for Barbados’ undying loyalty to Britain highlights the subtle, yet significantly powerful, effects of colonialism. As the chapter progresses, a boy in Lamming’s class asks his teacher about slavery and his inquiry is quickly swept under the rug. The teacher defines slavery but refuses to elaborate on the idea. W.E.B. DuBois’ analysis of English colonialism in The New Negro: Words of Color connects with the third theme in The Castle of My Skin. DuBois believes “the English fear black folk who have even tasted freedom” (Lamming 398). Historically, England has taken measures to prevent its black colonial inhabitants from attaining the adequate educational resources to liberate themselves. The student’s experience in class pertaining to slavery exemplifies the fact that Britain did