A Small Place

Hello and happy (late) one-year anniversary of Rouse!!! What’s a better way to celebrate the writings of women than by diving colonization, the root of injustice? For this month, I will be reviewing Jamaica Kincaid's A Small Place.

In A Small Place, Kincaid sets the stage in Antigua, where she was born. She argues that tourism is modern colonialism, taking away valuable resources and commodities from locals. She bluntly describes the luxury that tourists receive, such as beautiful beaches and nice hotels. However, Kincaid lists many of the facts ignored by tourists; where the content of their bathroom goes, the lack of adequate healthcare close by, the corrupt government, and that locals aren’t even allowed on their own beaches.

From the beginning, I enjoyed reading A Small Place. I often have noticed the disregard for local inhabitants by the tourism industry as well as my school, so I found it refreshing that our class had an opportunity to learn about the topic from another point of view. Additionally, I noticed (not surprisingly, given I attend a small affluent private school) that my classmates who are well-travelled were the people most challenged by the novel. Having said that, I do acknowledge and understand that I am a privileged member of my school community and that I am fortunate enough to have travelled with my family. I also understand that Kincaid’s writing can be polarizing and sparked debate within the classroom. However, as a woman of colour, I empathize with the frustration Kincaid has from the constant disregard for her culture. When her ancestors’ home was colonized by Europe, they were constantly belittled and faced discrimination. Though the Europeans left, the tourists almost make it seem as if they are coming back.

A Small Place definitely provokes emotion, negative and positive, but hopefully its message will continue to grow and inspire conversations.