The current slogan, "The beach is just the beginning," is not much of an improvement.
Kincaid's book is very explicitly addressed to the tourist who visits Antigua, and the text very directly summons this reader as "you." There aren't many books like this, written in the second person -- it doesn't allow for distance, and can make some readers uncomfortable. In this case, that's exactly the effect Kincaid is aiming for.
But are "you" responsible for the problems of Antigua? Perhaps "you" have never gone there. But people like you have gone there, and when they have gone as tourists, they experienced all the things Kincaid's "you" experienced -- lovely beaches, tropical-themed mixed drinks, and lovely clean hotel rooms. More important, though, is what "you"will not see: the pothole-filled uneven road, paved only once for the visit of Queen Elizabeth; the sewage outlets that pollute the only beaches available to Antiguans, or the island's only library, its roof partially collapsed and many of its books ruined. "You" may be frustrated with the educational or career choices open to you, but they will probably be much greater than those available to Antiguans, whose only post-secondary school is a school that trains hotel workers.
When I've taught this book in the past, students sometimes feel offended; they reason that they themselves haven't done what this "you" did, or else that, after all, the tourist dollars that Antigua gets are vital to its economy, which would only be worse off if "you" stopped going. But that's the bind of tourism; if it's the only business in town (or on the island), it doesn't bode well for the natives of the place, whoever they are. What is picturesque to one person is poverty to another; what seems a boon to one is a curse upon the other. And, as Kincaid observes, "Every native of every place is a potential tourist, and every tourist is a native of somewhere." It's only that, with the economic systems of former colonies such as Antigua, the native never gets the opportunity to exercise this potential. We may well say, in political terms, that European countries no longer have colonies in the Caribbean, but in economic terms, alas, this is not yet true.
NB: Along with this book, I'm asking everyone to read Kicaid's "Columbus in Chains."
Annie points out that Christopher Columbus should not be honored, and is happy that he is returned to Spain in chains. Annie's teacher who is sworn to honor Columbus says what Annie said is "Blasphemy". It is sad that although Annie has opposing thoughts and is right, she is given so much negativity for it. Growing up, I never knew the full truth of what Columbus did, and also felt that he should be celebrated. I can not believe that some people know that Columbus killed various people, stole, and enslaved them for no reason, and still believe he should be celebrated in a holiday or seen as a good person.
ReplyDeleteA Small Place’s conversational tone is tinged with edge. The “you” is meant to be any and all readers who are white, who might take a vacation to Antigua (or any place, really) that they never consider again. They do not consider where things come from or where things go, but rather about where they are going and where they will go back to. The edginess in the otherwise conversational, modern-day stream of consciousness tone reminded me of when someone you’re talking to goes off on a tangent before bringing themselves back. Jamaica Kincaid even acknowledges this in saying “There is a world of something in this, but I can’t go into it right now” (14). Not only have the British colonized Antigua, but the white people from North America (or worse, Europe) continue to travel there and make a mess out of the land.
ReplyDeleteIn the second section of the book, Kincaid asks “Do you ever try to understand why people like me cannot get over the past, cannot forgive and cannot forget?” (26) after discussing various parts of the British Empire that were ever-present when they were growing up in Antigua. The answer is often no– people do not think about that while they are planning a trip somewhere, or while they are looking at pictures of a beautiful place. They only think about how wonderful life must be there, or create stereotypes about the people that are from there. Kincaid also wrote, a few pages later, “ For [the colonizers] so enjoyed behaving badly, as if there was pleasure immeasurable to be had from not acting like a human being” (28). This reminded me of the readings from last week, specifically the “Discourse on the Logic of Language” piece and the Edicts that were written on the side.
As the book continues, the hint of edginess gives way to more and more outright emotion. There is not so much hiding, but more telling, showing, of how Kincaid feels. At one point, when discussing the building of schools and a library, “yes, in both of these places you distorted or erased my history and glorified your own” (36). The British Empire is erasing Antiguan history and making their own the dominant narrative throughout the entire colonization of the island (which is, of course, one of the largest aspects of colonization). In the next section, Antigua has broken free of the British Empire, but is struggling to support itself because its history, economy, and people have been forced to become dependent for so long. This is a common story for many colonized countries that later become independent.
Although "A Small Place" is not a conventional memoir, Kincaid is very present in her memories and perceptions. It is important to remember that even in a memoir or nonfiction essay, the voice in the work who speaks to the reader as “I” is first and foremost a literary creation—a representation of the author within the work, rather than the author herself. In other words, the “Jamaica Kincaid” who appears in A Small Place is a character—a highly edited version of the real Jamaica Kincaid—created by Kincaid to speak to the reader on her behalf. Kincaid appears in the essay both in memory as a child, and in the present day as a grown-up who is trying to assess Antigua’s history and current situation, and to explain it all.
ReplyDeleteKincaid’s “Columbus in Chains” is written almost like a creative nonfiction essay without the reflection part of it. It’s about a young girl going to a Christian all-girls school in America. Most of the girls and their families are like hers: descendents of slaves. The girl, Annie John, talks about how she wasn’t actually an upstanding student but merely got the prefect position to beat out the girl that would’ve had it if Annie John didn’t step up. She talks about a British girl named Ruth who would have to repeatedly wear the dunce cap for not knowing too much about the West Indies. Ruth would seem to feel guilty about what her own ancestors had done, especially for being the only white girl in their class. Annie John also expresses her love for Gwen, a girl her age with a large family. There were many coming-of-age elements including this love and the groups of girls exploring their bodies with each other. Annie John by the end of the story also seems to grow out of relying on her mother to make herself feel better and compares her mother to a crocodile.
ReplyDelete- Spock Nardone
It's difficult to move past certain things that happened in history only because they happened a certain while ago. We see this dilemma a lot with slavery and segregation in the United States with new laws imposing these acts, we still see the separation day to day.
ReplyDeleteAs for Christopher Columbus, he's given the title of discovering America when they were already Native Americans living on this land. Many people actually dishonor him for the terrible person he was and actually being a murderer. Him getting arrested and getting sent back to Spain can symbolize a form of punishment for what he's done.
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is a facetious piece about the experience of a tourist, specifically one visiting the island of Antigua. Kincaid goes into elaborate detail about the schools and hospital on the island, and how they might not “live up” to the expectations of the tourist. With every passing, seemingly negative thought, Kincaid predicts a tourist might have - such as not wanting to use the hospital in case of an emergency as it is subpar, or using the broken - down library, as it has been pending renovations for the last decade - Kincaid is delivering a certain message. Although conveyed in a somewhat offensive and mocking way, I think that’s the effect Kincaid was striving for. Just like how a tourist may look down on the infrastructure, culture, and overall wealth and health of the island, Kincaid wants the reader to have that same gut - punching feeling as they read the piece. The island was colonized, and now left impoverished, the native residents do their best to take pride and flourish on the island they call home. A powerful quote that stood out was Kincaid stating how “[N]ot very long after The Earthquake Antigua got its independence from Britain, making Antigua a state in its own right and Antiguans are so proud of this that each year, to mark the day, they go to church and thank God, a British God, for this” (Kincaid). Some Americans may not realize the impacts of colonization that have lasted to this day. As a result, the tourist has the means and privilege to escape their life and visit the island, while simultaneously knowing they can go back home once the vacation is over to their “good” hospitals, and stacked libraries - meanwhile the natives must remain there, as they don’t have the means to escape poverty.
ReplyDelete- Jess Panichas