Dispelling Stereotypes in "The Dark Child"

Camara Laye wrote The Dark Child to oppose stereotypes that have become part of western culture. When most westerners think about Africa. If I had my say I would have stated that if you went around asking people about what they think about when Africa is mentioned they would reply: Walt Disney's The Lion King, Blacks hunting with spears, and starvation if not the Aids Epidemic. It takes knowledge to defeat ignorance and that is what Laye tries to accomplish in his book The Dark Child.

Laye grew up in a small village in Koroussa, French Guinea. His father was a blacksmith and a respected man of the village. " Nevertheless I am better known. My name is one everyone's tongue, and it is I who have authority over all the blacksmiths in the five cantons." ( Laye 25) Laye's mother is a strong and kind women with strong beliefs of her previous religion. " My mother was very kind, very correct." ( Laye 66) Her strong beliefs in her history are shown through her ability with animals. (Naturally I watched from a distance, for my totem is not my mother's... but my mother could draw water without fear, and no one warned her of the danger, because everyone knew that the danger did not exist for her." (Laye 74)

Laye describes growing up and going to school in Koroussa. He attends the Koran school when he was very young and "transfers" to the French. Since France does control Guinea in the early 20th century, if you wanted to become educated you must speak French. By Laye doing this it shows that sterotype of ignorant black man is wrong. Laye learned French and exceeded in school all the way up to his departure for France. " Finally the examination came. It lasted three days. Three days of agony. But the marabouts must have given me all the help they could. Of seven candidates who passed I was first." (Laye 167)

During the 20th century there is a multitude of medical advances. The medical advances are shown in the circumcision ritual. The doctor, who is a friend of the family, cuts quick and precise. He takes careful consideration to the blood flow and watches to make sure it hemorrhages before applying a bandage. Through isolation, Laye is able to recover at a steady pace. The wound is under careful watch as it heals.