We Travel the SpaceWays Reflection

             Victor LaValle’s short story, “We Travel the Space ways,” was one of the more confusing works for me that we have read this semester so far. However, as I reached the end, it became clear that this short story was used to depict the limitations that colonialization places onto indigenous past and experiences. One quote I thought depicted this very well was “the new thing gets in the way of the old thing. There’s excess background noise” (24). This showed how new practices can prevent the history of a culture developing into the future, as there tends to be a lack of space for all these ideas. However, “We Travel the Space ways” aimed to promote the infinite amount of space there truly is in our world, and how the history of all cultures should not be left out of this space.  

            Like The McCoy Game, one’s ancestral roots can help forge into the future. Although these might be ostracized by Western society, these stories prove how useful and beneficial it is to utilize our past to create a vision of the future. Kim describes “the place they knew only as the Center of the World” as now being “invaded by men who enslave and indoctrinate” (37). Here, Kim demonstrates how a world that was once filled with culture and life has now become one of loneliness and systemic struggles. The loneliness that surmounts from this lack of life also shows how relationships are hindered by a lack of connection as well. The main character has lived a life in poverty due to the lack of resources and connections, therefore they “can’t make real contact with another person when you’ve got foot traffic interrupting the connection” (4). Due to limitations that the current society has imposed, it becomes impossible to break through these to gain a life of comfort. Once Kim could hear the bottles and cans, she described how “my job now wouldn’t be possible if you hadn’t reduced the background noise, the spiritual interference” (37). Therefore, this revealed how colonialized society has created disturbances that hinder individuals from looking back and using their spiritual roots for growth and development. 


 

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