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Ancient History I Learn Is Not My Own Analysis

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The individual's struggle against the power of the colonizer can be seen in the following sources. Sources 1, George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant, 2, Chinua Achebe's The Empire Fights Back, 3, Eavan Boland's In Which the Ancient History I Learn is Not My Own, and 4, National Park Service's Christiansted: Official Map and Guide, all exemplify the harsh implications and effects of colonialism to native countries. Unjust policies, made by colonial powers, subjected colonized populations to the loss of their land, resources, cultural and religious identities, and ultimately their lives to sequently adapt themselves for the interest of their oppressors.
The oppressors' political control was repressive and undemocratic to the natives of the land …show more content…

The Europeans saw themselves as the embodiment of "right" and guided the native people towards Christianity and civilization. This superior attitude destroyed traditional beliefs and social values. In source 2, "...to end Europe's imposition of a derogatory narrative upon Africa, a narrative designed to call African humanity into question" (Achebe 988), the natives had been stripped of individuality and human rights. Instead they were granted segregated benefits. The status, privilege, and wealth of colonial ruling populations were often maintained and upheld, like in source 3, "...so the red of Empire - the stain of absolute possession" (Boland lines 11-12) then through the use of policies that violated the human rights of those living in the colonized areas. The rights of the natives with regards to traditional lands, resources, and cultural language are denied to many populations. Today, many post-colonial governments have adopted unjust colonial policies and practices like in source 3, "I could list the English kings. I could name the famous battles. I was learning to recognize God's grace in history" (Boland lines 21-24) as a means to preserve their dominant

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