Week 6: “Colonialism and the Caribbean Novel” -Lamming (Castle)

In his piece on the effect of Colonialism on National identity, and the role of Caribbean novel to speak to and against this identity, Lamming, brings up a very interesting point on, as he calls it, “the truest form of racism”. According to Lamming the most direct and foundational understanding of racism is to take that which was given by the Colonizer, internalize it, and project it outward after their “de-colonizing efforts”. This is an interesting thought to take that which was created to subjugate and separate and to further its spread through the efforts of those which it harms the most. This is a discussion that I believe could be applied to the use of several colonial slurs that have been “re-claimed” by African Americans and are now integral definitions within their culture. What would Lamming have to say about their use? Can they be reclaimed?