--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Colonialism had its way with making us…" description: "\"“Colonialism had its way with making us believe we were inadequate, if we mimicked the lifestyle and values it upheld, we were embraced with open arms...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/mala-naidoo-26644_authentic-self_colonialism-had-its-way-with-making-us-b_2310285.jpg" --- # Colonialism had its way with making us believe we were… ![“Colonialism had its way with making us believe we were inadequate, if we mimicked the lifestyle and values it upheld, we were embraced with open arms. - “Vindication Across Time” quote by Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/mala-naidoo-26644_authentic-self_colonialism-had-its-way-with-making-us-b_2310285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/mala-naidoo-26644_authentic-self_colonialism-had-its-way-with-making-us-b_2310285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/mala-naidoo-26644_authentic-self_colonialism-had-its-way-with-making-us-b_2310285.jpg) > ““Colonialism had its way with making us believe we were inadequate, if we mimicked the lifestyle and values it upheld, we were embraced with open arms. - “Vindication Across Time”” [Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Colonial narratives imposed feelings of inferiority; adopting their values seemed rewarding but reinforced oppression. **In simple terms:** Colonialism made us feel inadequate, yet copying its values gave acceptance. Key Takeaway Question and reject imposed standards. Themes identity colonialism self‑esteem culture Mood critical empowering Type sociopolitical reflective When to use this quote - education - media consumption - personal development - community dialogue Key Concepts internalized oppression social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize internalized colonial beliefs? - What steps can reclaim authentic identity? A Different Perspective Acceptance of imposed values can be comforting, making change hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authentic self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) [Colonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonialism/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Open arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-arms/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Vindication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vindication/) ## Related quotes > [“I have not quite come to terms with the brevity that people crave as they dash through life, flitting from one thing to another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala-naidoo/i-have-not-quite-come-to-terms-with-the-brevity-that-people-crave-as/) [Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/) > [“Memory is permanent and life's encounters, transient. - "Vindication Across Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala-naidoo/memory-is-permanent-and-life-s-encounters-transient-vindication/) [Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/) > [These wars appear also to have given its death blow to colonialism and to imperialism in its colonial form, under which weaker peoples were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-greene-balch/these-wars-appear-also-to-have-given-its-death-blow-to-colonialism/) [Emily Greene Balch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-greene-balch/) > [“Often, men want money to get women, or to use women to get money, or both at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/often-men-want-money-to-get-women-or-to-use-women-to-get-money-or/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It seems more than a little patronizing for Westerners to lament the loss of the good old days when life in the Khumbu was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/it-seems-more-than-a-little-patronizing-for-westerners-to-lament-the/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“Chaos is the law of nature, order is the dream of man...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chaos-is-the-law-of-nature-order-is-the-dream-of-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men and women must be educated, in a great degree, by the opinions and manners of the society they live in. 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