--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The situation, therefore, in the colonial…" description: "\"“The situation, therefore, in the colonial countries, is tragic,” Cesaire continued. “Wherever colonization is a fact the indigenous culture begins to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/james-baldwin-995_culture_the-situation-therefore-in-the-colonial_524991.jpg" --- # The situation, therefore, in the colonial countries, is… ![“The situation, therefore, in the colonial countries, is tragic,” Cesaire continued. “Wherever colonization is a fact the indigenous culture begins to rot. And, among these ruins, something begins to be born which is not a culture but a kind of subculture, a subculture which is condemned to exist…” quote by James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/james-baldwin-995_culture_the-situation-therefore-in-the-colonial_524991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/james-baldwin-995_culture_the-situation-therefore-in-the-colonial_524991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/james-baldwin-995_culture_the-situation-therefore-in-the-colonial_524991.jpg) > ““The situation, therefore, in the colonial countries, is tragic,” Cesaire continued. “Wherever colonization is a fact the indigenous culture begins to rot. And, among these ruins, something begins to be born which is not a culture but a kind of subculture, a subculture which is condemned to exist on the margin allowed it by European culture. This then becomes the province of a few men, the elite, who find themselves placed in the most artificial conditions, deprived of any revivifying contact with the masses of the people.”” [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Colonialism erodes native culture, leaving a marginal subculture that elite elites inhabit, disconnected from the masses. **In simple terms:** Colonial rule creates a broken culture that only elites preserve. Key Takeaway Challenge the marginalization of post‑colonial voices. Themes colonialism culture marginalization Mood critical hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - media representation - community organizing - policy making Key Concepts post‑colonial theory identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can marginalized cultures reclaim agency? - What role should elites play in cultural revival? A Different Perspective Elite narratives can also empower resistance, not just marginalize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colonial Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonial-countries-4423136/) [Countries Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countries-tragic-4423138/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Indigenous culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous-culture/) [Situation Colonial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-colonial-4423137/) [Subculture Condemned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subculture-condemned-4423139/) [Tragic Cesaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-cesaire-4423135/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. 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