Laguardia reflection

 Elizabeth Thompson

Dr. Ellis

EN 376

27 November 2023

Internalized Colonization

            Okorafor’s Laguardia discusses the threat of the colonized becoming the colonizers with the tension between aliens and the Neo-Biafra movement. Citizen says the movement originally had good intentions to combat discrimination toward Igbos but became very rigid and discriminatory of aliens supported by Nigeria’s government. Even though Citizen is Igbo, he was targeted by protestors for having floral alien spores in his body, and his home, including the floral aliens he was caring for, was burned down by them (Okorafor). However, Citizen also has internalized prejudice against aliens as he offends Payment later on by refusing to let them hold his newborn (Okorafor). Although he later apologizes, his initial attitude demonstrates how colonization can make someone protective and defensive, giving them a survival mentality that prevents them from helping others when power dynamics shift. This is similar to Inan’s internalization of prejudice in Children of Blood and Bone when his taught hatred of maji is reflected inward once he learns of his powers. It is also seen with his fear and hesitation to help Zélie restore magic because doing so would not only give divîners a way to defend themselves against colonial powers but potentially could change power dynamics where Saran’s people are again at the mercy of the maji. Given Saran’s cruelty during the Raid and since then, many maji would likely want revenge too, and negotiation would be useless. Both texts demonstrate how colonization is not just systematic socially but emotional and generational too. Saran’s fear of the maji from losing his family is projected onto his son. The threat of the same happening is implied by Citizen’s literal snatching of his son away from Payment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adeyemi 2nd Weekly Reflection

  Joshua Singh Dr. Ellis EN 376 Second Adeyemi Reflection One of the benefits the novel’s structure serves is that each chapter follows the perspective of a singular character. This can also highlight the parallels between different characters' realizations of what is happening around them as well as how this realization compares to what they have been taught growing up. More specifically, Amari and Inan’s internal conflictedness stands at odds with their father’s teaching, and their maturation is seen through how they define themselves against him. For example, Amari does not want to emulate her father’s violence and cruelty, nor does she want to continue in the path of violence and destruction that he has shown her since the beginning of his reign. After she kills one of the captains, the spectators of Orisha applaud them and call Amari “Lionare.” Rather than feeling honored by this, Amari rebukes any of the glorification that would usually accompany being cheered on with a t...
Read more

Afrofuturism and The McCoy Game

  The concept of traveling with niche coordinates only a select few can understand parallels “A Map to the Next World.” The idea of life after death and never truly dying; the person lives on as long as their memory is alive. There being a family secret parallels Na Viro. The impossible becoming possible; the concept of people thinking that someone's heritage is myth (p.40). The idea that you must take action rather than being a viewer. Jamal and Andre being foils of the importance of knowing vs money (capitalism); the spoken poem about sisterhood. The jetbacks being compared to swimming on air parallels Na Viro’s wave finding the ocean is similar to navigating space. Additionally, Jamal being more interested in space and him bringing -encouraging- Andre to explore space parallels Na Viro when the sisters guided each other through understanding and returning to parts of their dual heritage. Furthermore, saving family despite the differences and fear parallels Tia saving her sister ...
Read more

Na Viro Reflection

Dani’s humanity rapidly decreases and it is clear that although the Academy had ill intentions, Dani took the agenda to the extremes. She did not have any genuine- familial reactions when it was  a possibility that Leilani was dead and she was willing to choke Tia to death if it meant getting the probe (240; 322-325) . That is mind boggling to me because what level of selfishness, greed and hatred does a human being have to reach in order to view their family as an obstacle/ disposable? On the topic of the Academy, Leilani shocked me in the best way possible! (254-257)  I like how both sisters reject Dani’s views, but that they did it in opposite ways. Both had the same goal, but different ways of achieving it. Tia was more apparent and actively denouncing the Academy, while Leilani decided to be more active in preventing the Academy in causing further-overall- harm. Since Tia was only focused on saving Earth, she never considered that other planets could face the same fate as...
Read more