FREE Reflections on Memmi's The Colonizer and the Colonized Essay (original) (raw)

Albert Memmi attempts to deal with the issue of European colonialism in the continent of Africa. He depicts the world in which this system was tolerated. He tries to show the reader a picture of the struggles of the colonial structure. The Los Angeles Times states that "The Colonizer ant the Colonized is an important document of our times, an invaluable warning for all future generations." Memmi documents this evil which is called colonialism as a advertisement to all its shortcomings.
Memmi himself admits that he " did not conceive of this book as a work of protest or even as a search for solutions. It was born out of reflection on an accepted failure" (145). He wanted to take an introspective look at what exactly colonialism was and why it could not work; he wanted to pass this information on to his readers so that they could understand the shortcomings of this system they called colonialism. It has been said that those who forget the past we be doomed to repeat it. That is why this book has gained such importance in our world literature. It is not for its grand solutions to a world problem but just a vast understanding of that very problem. Once fully understood, only then can one go on to fix the travesties of this world.
The novel discusses colonialism in general opposed to telling any specific story. Memmi offers up general observations of each certain group discussed. In this way, it is a story of human nature and an explanation of how the situation causes the individual to act. The author offers each point though a logical discussion of the causes and effects of the colonial system. Because of this, his novel appeals greatly to ones reason, but much less to ones emotion. This is the trade off when an author presents an picture the way Memmi does. He sacrifices passion for understanding.
However, as this book succeeds in accomplishing an important mission, it in some ways fails to do it effectively.

1. The American Colonization Society

(The Formation of The America Colonization Society p 209) Thomas Jefferson who advocated for the colonization of blacks from the year 1773, replied in 1811, according to Henry Noble to Ann Mifflin's proposition to make a settlement of colored people on the west coast of Africa. ... In 1816 Reverend Robert Finley a Presbyterian minister from Basking Ridge, New Jersey contacted Paul Cuffe and told him of his plans to form the American Colonization Society. ... Caldwell, a Clerk of the Supreme Court and the American Colonization Society was established. ... On January 15, 1817, Forten and...

2. Colonization

Yet these goals were not practical enough when the European nations decided to colonize the Americas. ... The degree of success in colonizing the Americas would be measured by this fact. ... The logical next step for Spain after conquering such a vast area, was to colonize the New World. ... From this hub, a lucrative trade economy was established as a means for colonization. ... Of course the Northwest Passage was never discovered and therefore the Dutch decided to colonize. ...

3. England and the New England and Chesapeake Regions

It's true that England was responsible for the early colonization of the New England and Chesapeake regions. ... However each boat embarked with distinct ideas of the future of colonization. ... While other leaders of the migrators were focused more on the individual tasks and roles the colonizers had (Doc B). ...

4. Imperialism

The lands colonized by the Europeans had their social life changed greatly. ... Geopolitics changed the fate of the colonized lands. ... The colonized lands tried to fight the Europeans away but they were taken over. ... There were some negatives but overall the colonized land's economic life turned out great. ...

5. Colonization of Martinique

Before colonization, Martinique (Madinina or Mantinino as referred to by its settlers) was a land covered by magnificent rain forests, devoid of the vast sugar plantations that plagued it under French rule. ... Colonization finally took off in July of 1635 with the settling of Pierre Belain d" Esnambuc on the western coast of the island. ... After nearly three centuries of being a territory of France, Martinique was made into a French department as proposed by Leopold Bissol and Martinique born Aime Cesaire, an author on the colonization of Martinique and a fighter for the restoration of dig...

6. England's Colonization in North America

England's Colonization in North America England's colonization in North America first started in 1497. ... It wasn't until 1588 that England would start to consider colonization. Hostility existed between Spain and England over trade and colonization. ... Two main companies would start the colonization to North America. ... Virginia is the exception to the rule in colonization. ...

7. The AFFECTS OF EUROPEAN COLONIZATION ON AFRICA

US Africa and the World MIDTERM EXAMINATION Analyze the impact of European colonization on the continent of Africa Historically, attempts at economic development have resulted in varying degrees of success and failure, nowhere is this more evident that in Africa. In the early part of the twentieth century Africa was " partitioned, conquered, and occupied effectively by industrialized European colonizers" (Mokhtar 2002 267). ... One of the first European nations to colonize Africa was France; much is to be said about "the French who ruled over the largest area of territory in Africa" (...

8. Patterns of Colonization

Patterns of Colonization explores the paradigms of two distinct societies born out of the influence of European imperialism, African slavery and extern factors that influenced the Caribbean. ... The quest for colonization fostered the growth of distinguishing types of societies, which were the purpose of European colonization, the settler colonies and the exploitation colonies. ... He placed a very colorful overview of the Caribbean during colonization and its influential agencies. ...

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