Because of the colonial past of so many cultures, numerous indigenous people today face many issues. Today colonialism is still active, known as Neocolonialism, which has devastating effects on global cultural groups. To begin, the term colonialism is defined in the dictionary as “control by one country over another and its people”. Throughout history colonialism has confounded and damaged numerous cultures and people. Indigenous people have undergone a series of massive modifications to their culture as well as spiritual beliefs and morals and obligations they’ve held since before the first coming of Western cultures.
People from colonized countries were seen as lesser and powerless people because their land, home and everything were controlled by colonized countries. This often led to conflicts when countries became independent and suddenly faced the challenge of developing a new national identity and self-confidence. People from former colonized countries tried to discuss the problems and difficulties they had during the period of colonization and effects of the period by producing a literature which is called postcolonial literature. Postcolonial literature is writing which has been “affected by the imperial process from the moment of colonization to the present day” (Ashcroft et al, 2). Postcolonial literature seeks the richness and legitimacy of original cultures in an effort to restore pride in practices and traditions that were systematically degraded under colonialism.
British Colonies in North America Despite their staggering differences economically, politically, and culturally, the British colonies of North America managed to pull together to resist the British policies that were threatening their ways of life. Each of the colonies struggled to inhabit and thrive in a new land; disease, Native American raids, and lack of knowledge about growing crops were a few things that stood in their way. After powering through years of hardship and labor, losing loved ones, colonies failing, and struggling to survive, the colonies finally got on their feet and began to grow from the foundations they had established. Economically, the colonies were not similar; in fact, they had all built upon completely different resources depending on the fertility of the land. The English government made moving to the “New World” sound like an adventure and a second chance at life and this attracted many English colonists.
Equal Protection: The Difficulties overcoming prejudices Introduction As we move through the 21st century, our reliance on the past has never been more apparent to how we proceed in the present as well as the future. The experiences of the past are still in some respects the problems of the present. Throughout history, Americans in particular have struggled in providing equality in every aspect to its citizens and people in general. There have been numerous law cases disputing the lack of equal protection given to one group as opposed to another. The question that remains is: How can we (Americans) move forward while incorporating past experiences to overcome this issue that has plagued us for so long?
The Harm caused by Slavery still continues to be suffered by the community through this day. African Americans have always been devalued in the American Legal System. Even since the days of colonial Europe, it was custom, not law that African Americans were inferior to their Anglophone whites. They have always held that they were inferior, meant to be subjugated by the superior and dominant white Anglophone race. It has been ingrained in custom and cultural beliefs of America and thus the American legal system is inherently prejudiced against African Americans.
The definition of decolonization differs from person to person, from nation to nation, and from past experience to past experience. In my opinion decolonization is a thought out active resistance of colonial forces with a goal of eventually obtaining indigenous liberation. Colonialism has brought forth many problems with it. As more time passes the problems keep getting worse. Problems such as crimes being committed on Natives and loss of tradition.
These communities have found themselves falling behind in their fight to break apart from years of oppression. How has the view changed within racialized communities accepting and resisting racism brought on by their oppressors as a result of colonialism? The changes within challenging colonial discourses has allowed for oppressed groups to adapt with changes in post-colonial tactics. In Taiaiake Alfred’s article, “Rebellion of the Truth,” the author discusses how the Canadian First Nations community in Whistler struggles with the politics of their band leaders and government in regards to the possession of their lands. According to Alfred, the Onkwehonwe community struggles with maintaining their lands financially.
Historical imperialism was a practice most commonly used by Europeans in the late 19th century, and it continues to affect societies upon which it was imposed to this day. These societies- usually consisting of indigenous peoples in Canada, Africa, Sudan, and many other places- were oppressed until some of their cultural beliefs and practices were forever lost, which affects them significantly today. In addition, treaties were issued that may have been short term solutions then, but were not long-term solutions in any way and thus now there are ongoing land claims issues that the government has refused to settle. While the government has done some to attempt to correct these past wrongs, a lot of it comes too late and doesn’t do much for the current state of these peoples who suffered from European imperialism. This does not, however, mean nothing should be done in an attempt to compensate.
An overwhelming majority of African nations has reclaimed their independence from their European mother countries. This did not stop the Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent however. European colonialism has shaped modern-day Africa, a considerable amount for the worse, but also some for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa’s history and culture especially in recent years. In order to properly understand the effects of colonization, one must look at its history.
What varies greatly is the awareness of this connection, and the importance an individual places upon it. The term ‘tribe’ would further complicate the debate, and serve no other purpose than to draw discussion away from the process of invention; the main focus of... ... middle of paper ... ...nd every aspect of life from marriage to choice of profession was influenced by the ethnic group you belonged to. Transience, multiplicity, and change were the key words, though. One can say that what the colonial governments actually invented, and what has often left such a painfully devastating legacy, was not ethnicity itself, but the codification of ethnic groups in national laws, the exclusivity of groupings, and the bringing to the fore of a person’s ‘tribe’ at the expense of all other means of identification. You no longer merely took comfort from being part of a Tutsi community, you were a Tutsi from the day you were born until the day you died, and the course of your life would be decided for you based on this label.