Blog Post #4

The second literary theory I have decided to use to analyze my text in post-colonialism criticism. Colonial oppression is visible through the entire novel as it is a novel taking place in the american revolution. The British are basically the leaders of the world at this point and they are using their power over black people making them have no rights at all because they are not of British descent. the British even have power over the settlers in the american colonies which shows to be problematic when the war breaks out because the american colonies do not want to be ruled by the British.

Black people are described as other or stranger and are treated as property and as human. they are not treated with respect because they are just worker to the white people but their human characteristics give them more or less value when being sold. They are described as being dirty and thieves. the text reveals that the american colonies do not want to be ruled by Britain and they want their freedom just as the black people do not want to be owned by the white people and they just want their freedom as well.

In the novel there is a clear oppression of minorities. For example Lindo being a jew makes people respect him less and he is not seen as powerful as the anglican British people. Just as the black people are not seen to be equal on any level to the white people in the novel, and the men are seen as more powerful and respected than women. This is visible when Aminata is close with Ms. Lindo because they are both woman they are both seen as less valuable. “To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recognize their humanity and to assert your own.” (pg47). This quote shows how Aminata was not always seen as human and she knew that everyone was equal but she had to make sure that other people saw her as equally human too.