"Generations of Black Londoners: Echoes of 1950s Caribbean Migrants' Voices in Victor Headley's Yardie and Zadie Smith's White Teeth" (original) (raw)

2004, Obsidian III: Literature in the African Diaspora

Abstract

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This paper examines the narratives of Caribbean migration to London as depicted in Victor Headley's "Yardie" and Zadie Smith's "White Teeth." It explores the distinct portrayals of first-generation migrants and their descendants, highlighting how language, community spaces, and cultural references differ across the two works. While Headley focuses on the specific experiences of Jamaican migrants, essentially ignoring broader London landmarks, Smith intertwines the realities of her mixed heritage with the rich history of the city, providing a critique of colonialism through her characters' interactions with London's landscape.

Key takeaways

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  1. Zadie Smith's and Victor Headley's works reflect generational differences in Black Londoners' experiences.
  2. Smith critiques colonialism and its impact on contemporary Britain using multiracial characters.
  3. Headley portrays the underground economy's influence on Caribbean migrants in London.
  4. Postwar Caribbean authors laid the foundation for contemporary Black British literature.
  5. Smith and Headley challenge memorialization of colonial history through their characters' narratives.

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References (15)

  1. Asian California." Goldsea: Asian American Supersite. 18 March 2002. <http://goldsea.com/Features/California2k/ california2k.html>.
  2. Collins, Loretta. "Raggamuffin Cultural Studies: X-Press Novels Yardie and Cop Killers Put Britain on Trial." Small Axe. 9 (March 2001): 70-96. 30 Nov. 2001. <http://muse.jhu.edu/ demo/smx/5.1collins.pdf>.
  3. Farred, Grant. "The Postcolonial Chickens Come Home to Roost: How Yardie Has Created a New Postcolonial Subaltern." South Atlantic Quarterly. 100.1 (Winter 2001): 287-305. 18 March 2002. <http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/ south_atlantic_quarterly/v100/100.1farred.pdf>.
  4. Gilroy, Beryl. Black Teacher. 1976. London: Bogle-L'Ouverture, 1994.
  5. Frangipani House. London: Heinemann, 1986.
  6. --. Gather the Faces. Leeds: Peepal Tree, 1996.
  7. --. In Praise of Love and Children. Leeds: Peepal Tree, 1996.
  8. --. "Women of Color at the Barricades." Winds of Change: The Transforming Voices of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars. Ed. Adele S. Newson and Linda Strong-Leek. New York: Peter Lang, 1998. 145-53.
  9. Headley, Victor. Yardie. 1992. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1993.
  10. Howe, Darcus. "The Yardie Has Been Invented by White Journalists." New Statesman 128.4447(1996): 14. 5 March 2002. <http:// web4.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark>.
  11. James, C. L. R. Beyond a Boundary. 1963. New York: Pantheon, 1983.
  12. Lamming, George. The Emigrants. 1954. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan P, 1997.
  13. --. In the Castle of My Skin. 1953. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan P, 1991. --. The Pleasures of Exile. London: Michael Joseph, 1960.
  14. --. "Texas Dialogues." 1970. Conversations: George Lamming's Essays, Addresses and Interviews, 1953-1990. Ed. Andaiye and Richard Drayton. London: Karia, 1992. 57-76.
  15. Marx, Karl and Freidrich Engels. The First Indian War of Independence

FAQs

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What generational differences exist in perceptions of London among characters?add

Smith contrasts second-generation characters like Irie, who find London liberating, with first-generation Samad's bitterness. This highlights the evolving identity and relationship to the city among Black Londoners.

How do the authors illustrate Caribbean speech and identity in their work?add

Headley reproduces Caribbean-inflected English in Yardie, capturing migrants' vernacular. This contrasts with Smith's White Teeth, which reflects a more integrated, multicultural London atmosphere.

What critiques of British colonialism are present in Zadie Smith's work?add

Through characters like Samad, Smith challenges colonial narratives by memorializing conflicting histories, such as depicting the Indian 'Mutiny.' This offers a detailed critique of Britain's official memory and memorialization.

How does Headley's Yardie portray the underground economy for migrants?add

Yardie illustrates the characters' reliance on illegal dealings, highlighting economic precarity faced by migrants due to restrictive immigration policies. This reality underscores the desperation and opportunism in the immigrant experience.

What significance does modernity have in shaping immigrant narratives in London?add

Both authors show that contemporary London serves as a backdrop for diverse immigrant stories, reflecting historical legacies of colonialism. Smith and Headley contribute to a narrative that reshapes identity amid urban complexities.

Last updatedOctober 10, 2025