Soudabeh Sabour

Prof. Brown

English 1B.

7/16/2013

-why do the people from Antigua respect tourists in costume, but not their own people who are coming back from trips?

-why do you think that we still see slavery and unfairness although it seems they have disappeared?

-why does not she forget the past? Isn't it because she wants to be a victim forever?

A Small Place

            “A Small Place” is a sad real life story of a girl, Jamaica Kincaid” born and grew up in Antigua, a small island in the West Indies, in the Caribbean region, in the county of Antigua and Barbuda. In her book, she writes about her country, where she grew up. She talks about the life her people had and the life style of released slaves while their slavery has a new different shape, to some extent even worse. Her wounds are so deep that she still cannot forget and forgive what happened to her and the people who did it.

            The first thing she starts with is the way tourists are treated. Although natives run the costume but they respect and honor the tourists from America or Europe, while they do not respect their own people who are coming back from trips. Why those who have suffered from discrimination, do the same thing with their own people? They are not honest with tourists since the taxi driver tried to charge the tourist much more than what law let him. There were no brand new American car in there. The way the government runs the country is exactly slavery.  People can have brand new Japanese cars, which are known as the most economical cars, but at the same time the use leaded gas that damages the cars. Or they can get loans to buy cars, but not houses. And the car leasing system is controlled by the minister. This type of policy in economy is worse than slavery to me. If you are a slave, you are a slave. But if you think you are free to have a brand new car, but in reality you are treated as a slave, is not fair. How could they be free while they do not have a good sewage-disposal system?

            The bitter language of her, even after years, can be felt throughout the whole story. But I want to ask her why she cannot forget and forgive? Yes, she is right. They have been treated very inhumane. But what is the use of sticking to those bad memories and keep the hatred? I can understand her and I feel very sorry that they have been treated that way. But she had better stop her anger and hatred and try to help her people grow and get the control of their lives.