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Here Comes the Sun: Deconstructed Student Essays

Addressing the Native Dependency on Neocolonialism

The tourism industry across the Caribbean was built by the oppressors for the oppressors, and now the native populations are dependent on it. The system was created to keep the wealth in the hands of the colonial powers while preventing those of low economic status from succeeding in society. As seen in this excerpt from The Economic Impact of Tourism: Jamaican Residents' Perceptions, it is most difficult for the people to express displeasure with the system who most rely on it. Even though they are oppressed by it, it provides them with the bare necessities for survival, making it difficult for many to speak up against it. Colonial narratives fail to address this harsh reality, but it is a prominent theme exposed in Here Comes the Sun. Through the characters of Margot and Delores, it is evident that despite being oppressed by the societal standards set by the tourism industry, they accept their place and work in the tourism industry to be able to provide for themselves as well as Thandi. (Frater)

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1. Addressing the Native Dependency on Neocolonialism The tourism industry across the Caribbean was built by the oppressors for the oppressors, and now the native populations are dependent on it. The system was created to keep the wealth in the hands of the colonial powers while preventing those of low economic status from succeeding in society. As seen in this excerpt from The Economic Impact of Tourism: Jamaican Residents' Perceptions, it is most difficult for the people to express displeasure with the system who most rely on it. Even though they are oppressed by it, it provides them with the bare necessities for survival, making it difficult for many to speak up against it. Colonial narratives fail to address this harsh reality, but it is a prominent theme exposed in Here Comes the Sun. Through the characters of Margot and Delores, it is evident that despite being oppressed by the societal standards set by the tourism industry, they accept their place and work in the tourism industry to be able to provide for themselves as well as Thandi. (Frater)

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1. Addressing the Native Dependency on Neocolonialism The tourism industry across the Caribbean was built by the oppressors for the oppressors, and now the native populations are dependent on it. The system was created to keep the wealth in the hands of the colonial powers while preventing those of low economic status from succeeding in society. As seen in this excerpt from The Economic Impact of Tourism: Jamaican Residents' Perceptions, it is most difficult for the people to express displeasure with the system who most rely on it. Even though they are oppressed by it, it provides them with the bare necessities for survival, making it difficult for many to speak up against it. Colonial narratives fail to address this harsh reality, but it is a prominent theme exposed in Here Comes the Sun. Through the characters of Margot and Delores, it is evident that despite being oppressed by the societal standards set by the tourism industry, they accept their place and work in the tourism industry to be able to provide for themselves as well as Thandi. (Frater)
2. Resistance Against Colonial Oppression This passage from Maryse Condé's I Tituba reveals the presence of Maroons on the island of Barbados. Maroons were groups of formerly enslaved people who escaped and hid from colonial rule in remote areas of the Caribbean Islands. Being a member of these groups was very dangerous as there was the constant fear of being recaptured and punished. The formation of these Maroon groups demonstrated the power of those enslaved in the Caribbean and proved their ability to go against colonial rule. Because of their ability to hide away in remote areas of islands, Maroon camps could go years without being found. While many of the revolts by the Maroons were unsuccessful, there were a few that were successful enough to overthrow colonial rule. When Tituba returns to Barbados after spending years in the United States, she is shocked to discover how much the Maroons have grown in prevalence since she left. Although the group of Maroons in I Tituba were not successful at overthrowing colonial rule on the island of Barbados, their resilience and rebellious nature exposed the vulnerabilities in the systems put in place by colonial powers across the Caribbean. Because they showed the very flawed colonial systems, traditional narratives fail to share the stories of these groups as they harm the reputations of the seemingly indestructible forces that were the colonizers of the Caribbean. Through Black female archipelagic literature, this alternate and unheard perspective of history can be shared, and colonial renderings of island geographies can be contested. (Condé 143)

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This passage from Here Comes the Sun contains a conversation between Margot and Maxi. Margot and Maxi hold two competing views on Jamaica and its tourism industry. Maxi has a more favorable opinion of his home in Jamaica. He recognizes that he gets to call a beautiful place on the sea home and is also thankful for the tourists because they provide for the people of Jamaica economically. Maxi feels that the people of Jamaica should be thankful for the tourists because of the industry they create and the money they bring to the island. He feels that the tourists cannot be blamed for the hardships many Jamaicans are faced with because they are simply responsible for bringing money to the island. On the contrary, Margot does not feel at home in Jamaica. While she does think it a beautiful place to call home, it does not serve as a home for her. Jamaica is a paradise for those who vacation there, not for the people who live there year-round. These differing views show the dichotomy of the perspectives of tourism in Jamaica. Although tourism is the nation's primary source of revenue, it is also the central cause of many of the disparities the country is faced with. This perspective of tourism is not seen by outsiders visiting the island and is something only seen by native Jamaicans. Nicole Dennis-Benn displays these sentiments throughout the text as they counter the colonial renderings of the Caribbean, which fail to address them. (Dennis-Benn 44)