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Here Comes the Sun: Deconstructed Student Essays

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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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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Despite only being a few sentences, this short passage sheds light on the fact that the people of Willow Springs earned their right to their land through retaliation and generations of hard-fought struggles. These people have maintained their independence for nearly 200 years from the United States, one of the world's largest colonial superpowers. Across the world, from the Caribbean to the Pacific, the United States has a history of colonization and conquest. Despite being just offshore of Georgia and South Carolina, Willow Springs has been able to hold its independence from the United States. The actions of and qualities embodied by the people of Willow Springs demonstrate that traditional colonial narratives of islands and archipelagos are not always the case. Throughout world history, colonizers have fought to gain control of islands and archipelagos worldwide. As mentioned, these island colonies served as strategic moneymakers for the colonial powers. The rich grew richer while certain groups were marginalized, creating a near-irreversible socioeconomic and racial divide. Willow Springs neglects this narrative of colonization and exploitation because the people who call it home have fought to keep things the way they want them to be. This community demonstrates how unity among a small group can rival that of a world superpower such as the United States. Willow Springs, as well as other minority groups such as the people of River Bend in Here Comes the Sun and the Maroons in I Tituba, demonstrate how methods of peaceful and forceful retaliation can be successful in achieving freedom from colonial rule. They contest the traditional narratives of island geographies as they counter their traditional power structures. (Naylor 5)