Criticism Quote by Chinua Achebe
“Joseph Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist. That this simple truth is glossed over in criticisms of his work is due to the fact that white racism against Africa is such a normal way of thinking that its manifestations go completely unremarked.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Novel and the African Writer” by Chinua Achebe, 1965
Conrad’s works are often praised while his racist attitudes toward Africa are ignored, reflecting normalized white racism.
In simple terms: Conrad’s racism is overlooked in literary criticism.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and critique hidden biases in celebrated works.
Themes
racism
literary criticism
colonialism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- book clubs
- publishing decisions
- teaching literature
- media reviews
Key Concepts
postcolonial theory
authorial bias
cultural hegemony
Questions to Reflect On
- How does ignoring an author’s prejudice affect our understanding of their work?
- What steps can we take to address bias in literary canon?
A Different Perspective
Normalization of racism can obscure harmful ideas in revered texts.
![“As Alcoff (1998: 18) argues, ‘Racism appears to be deeply sedimented into white psyches in a process that is newly reenforced [sic] each day.’ This” quote by Clare Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/219/clare-land-108847_racism_as-alcoff-1998-18-argues-racism-appears_2143676.jpg)
