Analysis of Shakespeares The Tempest - Racism :: free essay writer

Racism in The Tempest One manifestation of racism that Cesaire surfaces is the proliferation of negative Black stereotypes. Cesaire uses Prospero to expose the feeble, racist stereotypes many Whites propagate about Blacks. Prospero, presenting a common White opinion, says to Caliban, "It [Caliban's living quarters] wouldn't be such a ghetto if you took the trouble to keep it clean" (13). Such a statement is clearly racist and plays into the stereotypes many Whites have about Blacks (i.e., they are lazy and dirty). These stereotypes are White lies. The cleanliness of a residence has very little to do with whether it is a ghetto or not. Also, Prospero's stereotypical response puts the blame on Blacks for problems that were ultimately created by European colonization and the subsequent employment of Africans as slaves. Furthermore, it can he argued that Whites are the lazy race because they are the ones who initiated African slave labor. Another stereotype that Whites often impose on Blacks has to do with a Black man's supposed desire to have sex with White women. Cesaire addresses this issue when Prospero accuses Caliban of trying to rape his daughter(l3). Cesaire is pointing out a classic case of White male guilt projection. History has clearly shown that more White men, supposedly pious slave owners in particular, have taken advantage of Black women, than Black males have of White women. The historical White power structures in America have facilitated the circumstances that have made this kind of sexual exploitation of Black women possible. By using Prospero to accuse Caliban of laziness and sexual impropriety, Cesaire poignantly reveals: the hypocrisy of Whites. Another manifestation of racism that Cesaire draws to our attention is the woefully inadequate educational opportunities that exist for Blacks in America Caliban indicts Prospero when he says, "as for your learning, did you ever impart any of that to me? No, you took care not to. All of your science you keep for yourself alone, shut up in those big books" (12) While such a statement is historically accurate in the sense that Whites sought to keep Black slaves uneducated so that it would be easier to manipulate them, the statement also addresses the more subtle, but no less evil, form of educational racism that still exists to this day. Jonathan Kozol paints a graphic picture of degrading squalor when it comes