Throughout the interview with Achebe, there were many ideas that were discussed pertaining to world’s past and present. The the ideas that were discussed were African thoughts, colonization, slavery and power. How Africans and African societies are minorities in the world and need leadership to flourish. How colonization is justified because of the greater power that other countries posses. Many of the topics discussed in the interview were also touched upon in Achebe’s book “When Things Fall Apart”.
The first idea that was discussed in the interview was colonization and what the book “When Things Fall Apart” means to different people around the world. The fact that people from different countries came into new and different places and took over without permission. In the beginning, Achebe did not intend the book to have connections to history, Achebe was describing the colonization of his tribe from his point of view, as the colonized rather than the colonizers. This connected not with only people and tribes in Africa, this was happening all around the world and many different people and cultures can relate to the situation of being colonized.
After Achebe wrote the book, he “learned something, which was that [different people] had a history that was similar to the story, the history of colonization” (Achebe).
Achebe states that there are different forms of dispossession. There are many ways that people can be deprived of their needs and taken over completely. Colonization relates to the the book “When Things Fall Apart” because they both include foreign people coming into a different area and upsetting society and disturbing the social order. Foreigners changed everything that held them together and things fell apart. Their way of life changed and forced to follow something different. Keeping all of this in mind, some people and countries have still not healed fully from the heavy blows of colonization in the past. Colonizers scared many people as well as done some very terrible damage to societies and cultures.
The Essay on Thomas Friedman’s book “The World Is Flat”
Thomas Friedman’s book The World Is Flat analyzes the progress of globalization and how it has changed core economic concepts. After traveling to numerous countries, he came up with the conclusion that the world is “flat,” in the sense that competitive playing fields between industrial and emerging market countries have been leveled. He provides frequent examples of how countries, such as China ...
Another idea that the Achebe interview explored was the portrayal and characterization of African people. For example, the Europeans were not very friendly towards Africans. Africans were thought of as less important, uncivilized, and worthless. On the other hand, Europeans thought of themselves as rulers, civilized, and powerful. This thinking by European people led to many cruelties against Africans, for example slavery and colonization. The thought that Africans were not equal to Europeans led to Europeans thinking that the slave trade was good and what they were doing to these African colonies and people are justified. After Achebe published his book showing the world African point of view to this matter, others are also starting to join Achebe’s cause in showing other people both sides. The new point of views on these matters gave the world another perspective. A perspective of how people who think that they are better can just come in and take power away from lesser minorities. The shift is “not in the structure of power .. [or] political power” (Achebe), but a shift in power that people will tell stories about. I think the shift in power that Achebe is referring to is who is in power.
How the power were taken away from the minorities and replaced with powerful countries with an aim to reform. Achebe thinks that this power shit will create different and new stories that can be told to other people. Stories feed off each other and due to this, Achebe thinks that the world will be a better place. Although Achebe thinks that African point of view stories will change the world, it is unlikely to happen. I think this because different cultures are mindlessly absorbed in their own culture and dominance. Some people limit themselves from the rest of the world and only open minded people will be affected by the stories. Even the news today coming from Africa is one sided. People do not see the point of view from the civilians but rather take the point of view of the more powerful nations and governments. Coverage of Africa is skewed and focuses on famines, unrest, and government and neglects to cover countries that are working to solve problems.
The Essay on Contributions To America English People Africans
Contributions to America Early American society was comprised of many different elements. The biggest contributions to the society was the American Indians, Africans, and, of course, the English, the biggest of the three. Their relationship together was far different than what we have today. You wouldn't just see some African and view him as just another American. It also didn't have a triangular ...
Achebe thinks that literature is used to justify slavery and imperialism. The one sided thoughts and opinion on matters creates a divide in people’s judgments. This does not allow people too see both sides of the story and get a full understanding of the situation. Achebe has great views and ideas to improve Nigeria and thinks that Nigeria has a bright future. Achebe thinks that Nigeria “is unable so far to manage political transactions and peace” (Achebe).
Achebe still keeps tight ties with Nigeria and still wants to move back. Achebe hopes that resources can be given to Nigeria so it can flourish, evolve as a country and diversify. Achebe dreams that there will be a universal civilization. Where everyone is equal and is under one central set of ideas.
