Colonisation in Reverse Flashcards
Summary of Colonization in reverse
-After World War II, Britain needed workers to boost its economy, leading the government to offer jobs and passage to people from Jamaica, the Caribbean, Africa, and South Asia. The poet Bennett finds irony in this, noting that the British, who once exploited these regions and their people, now relied on the descendants of those they enslaved.
-Although the poem has a humorous tone, it underscores the darker reality that Britain’s earlier wealth was built on cruelty and exploitation.
-Bennett’s work also explores the potential negative impacts of English culture on migrants, questioning whether it fosters laziness and reflecting on the role reversal of exploiters becoming dependent.
Context of colonization in reverse
-In the 1950s and 1960s, Britain faced a worker shortage after World War II and invited people from its colonies to come to England for basic jobs. Many came on a ship called “HMS Windrush.”
-However, when they arrived, Britain didn’t give them proper visas to work or stay. Decades later, England began deporting these people, saying they had no proof of legal residency because the government had “lost” documents proving they could stay.
-This led to a major scandal, as many of these immigrants had built their lives in England, highlighting the mistreatment by Britain of those who helped rebuild the country after the war.
Structure and form of poem
-The lines emphasize a mass movement of people from Jamaica to England.
-Repetition with “by de” underscores the large numbers of people leaving, suggesting a mass exodus.
-People used various types of transport to migrate, indicating they were leaving in significant numbers.
-The poem contains 11 quatrains with an ABCB rhyme scheme.
-The caesura (break of a line) and repeated exclamatory sentence “What a islan! What a people!” reflect the idealized view of England as a perfect place for Jamaicans to settle.
-The caesura and repetition create emphasis, illustrating how England’s appeal might have been exaggerated.
Language, Imagery, Poetic techniques:
-The voice is that of the poet, using her native Patois. The rhyme and rhythm create an upbeat tone that is reminiscent of calypso music popular in the 1950s.
-The poem is written in Jamaican Patois, the colloquial speech of the people, is expressive and inherently humorous, inventive and creative. This makes the poem immediately feels exotic and foreign which emphasises that the identity of these people.
“Colonizing England in reverse”
-The British government invited people from Jamaica and other colonies to move to England, but once they arrived, they were treated poorly.
These immigrants took jobs below their skill level, were paid poorly, and lived in worse conditions than they had at home.
-It felt like a betrayal by the British government, who had promised better opportunities.
Despite this mistreatment, these immigrants were helping to rebuild the country, achieving a sort of victory over the colonizer.
“ dem a pour out a jamaica”
-Metaphor - they are pouring out of jamaica
Suggesting movement, but continuous movement of people out of jamaica and into england
“Motherlan” (irony)
-Hoping england will give them a new life»_space; in that sense they could consider england as being their motherland
-But actually, irony> england is not the “mother” of the jamaican people
“ tun history upside dung!”
Ironic - impossible to turn history upside down
“Shippin off”
Sounds like shipping off good - “shippin off”
-Sense that they dont really care for the people, not treated like a human (in masees»_space; manufacturing)»_space; shows the carelessness
“Start play dem different role”
-Some people had to do completely different jobs in england
-They were expecting to have a similar/better life , but reality - the took jobs that were way before their skill level - and be expected to accept that and be happy with it.
“Dat suit her dignity”
They are doing “colonization in reverse”
Oonoo see how life is funny” “Oonoo see de turnabout?”
“Oonoo” - humorous (Emphasize the tongue-in-cheek)
the fact that all of these jamaicans are going to england thinking they are colonizing england is - so ironic that it is almost funny
“What a devilment a Englan!”
-The end-stop formed by the exclamation mark implies a frustrating criticism of England that even though they have fought in many wars
-The speaker doesn’t see how they can cope with the massive influx of people from Jamaica, some of whom are coming to exploit the English system.
