Dambudzo Marechera's Black Skin What Mask

During the time of British Imperialism, the empire subjected many countries to British culture and customs to the extent that the initial country’s culture was nearly stripped away. It is important to understand that people with dark skin were frowned upon. Dambudzo Marechera explores the effects this has on people of color in his short story, Black Skin What Mask. In it, the narrator accepts his appearance, and unlike his friend, he picks his own identity over the natural instinct to fit into society because he is a witness to his friends self-destruction. The narrator therefore overcomes human nature’s need for social acceptance. The ways in which the narrator and his friend view the importance of skin color vary, thus creating two perspectives on the same issue. As soon as the story begins, it is know that the narrator is aware of how different he is from the

Throughout the story, the narrator decides to avoid his friend’s actions and accept himself. He doesn’t accept his friend’s offer to borrow a suit, the type of clothing society approves of. The narrator has a choice to make by the end of the story. As expected, the narrator chooses to be sent down, over of being a “voluntary patient” (Marechera 285). Assuming he is mentally stable, the narrator is rebelling against the society that believes there is something wrong with him. His actions are reflected in today’s society. Individuals strive to express themselves more freely than they had in the past, consequently being proudly standing out from the crowd. To deal with societal rejection, the narrator consumes copious amounts of alcohol, to the point that his friend complains to him of his drinking habits. Instead of fighting for a place in the exclusive society, he gives up and is then forced to accept himself whether or not society approves of his physical