In reflection upon British history, many recall the dark days surrounding the imperialism and colonial establishment of England around the globe, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, after World War II, England experienced a labor shortage attributed to the damage caused by the conflict. Prompted by a lack of work in their home country and numerous opportunities abroad for employment, approximately three-hundred thousand Jamaicans emigrated to England to search for jobs in the late 1940s and the 1950s (2471). In her satirical poem, “Colonization in Reverse”, Louise Bennett, a Jamaican-British citizen, laughs at what she believes is a paradox of culture—Bennett describes the mass exodus as ironic, that those who sought to conquer Jamaica and regions of Africa now require external assistance from the very people they had previously dominated. In many ways, Bennett portrays the phenomenon as a form of non-violent invasion, a kind of victory for her ancestors. In the accomplishment of this purpose, Bennett utilizes numerous devices: ironic turn of phrase, phonetic language to describe an accent, and allusions to British history.
This poem truly reveals Bennett’s aptitude for the double-entendre. Throughout the piece, Bennett incorporates humorous phrases that poke fun at Britain’s reversal of power. In particular, there are a few examples that afford themselves specific attention; one of these occurs in stanza 5, as Bennett muses,
“An week by week dem shipping off
Dem countryman like fire,
Fe immigrate an populate
De seat a de Empire.”
(2472)
Here, Bennett mocks England, calling it “De seat a de Empire.” Referring to Britain’s former glory as a nation owning myriad territories, Bennett mocks the current state of the country, as it clearly is not the isolationist superpower it once was. The nation now requires a great deal of help in its manpower, provided by those who immigrate from abroad. Later on, Bennett states in her ultimate stanza,
“Wat a devilment a Englan!
Dem face war an brave de worse,
But me wondering how dem gwine stan
Colonizin in reverse”
(2472).
In this portion, Bennett jokes that Britain may have won World War II, but they will struggle significantly more with the immigration of Jamaicans. In this way, Bennett is again emphasizing how the tables have turned—Britain's recent weakness makes them vulnerable to external influence in her mind. These tropes lend themselves to Bennett’s purpose, as their humour successfully makes fun of the complete change in the status-quo between Britain and the Jamaican people, an about-face movement of history. A sardonic tone in these stanzas adds a flavour of revelry to Bennett’s work, as she basks in the outcomes that honour her ancestors.
The entirety of this piece is written in a phonetic style that is of note. Bennett composes her poem with words that require pronunciation similar to how a non-native English speaker from Jamaica may read the work. Utilizing phrases such as “settle fe de dole” which is settle for the dole [1] and “By de ship-load, be the plane load Jamaica is Englan boun.” which is by the ship load, by the plane load Jamaica is England-bound. Bennett includes this stylistic choice perhaps for many reasons, but one key purpose which is conducive to her theme may be this: this method may cause the reader, regardless of nationality, to imagine a non-native English speaker from Jamaica, perhaps one of the immigrants, orating the poem. How does this aid Bennett? The style of speech allows the reader to visualize a member of the immigrant procession saying these words, as if this poem is not just historical commentary but also the thoughts of one experiencing the situation first-hand. This immerses the reader in the place and culture of the time, and results in them more easily understanding the opinions of an immigrant in their own voice.
In continuation of her purpose of indicating a drastic change in the historical role of Britain, Bennett appeals to the country’s own history to provide a kind of sarcastic evidence as to its circumstances. Bennett commences her historical allusion with a key phrase in stanza three: “Jus a pack dem bag an baggage/An turn history upside dung!” Here, Bennett indicates an upside-down turn of British history, which she then describes later on in stanzas 5 and 6, calling
England “De seat a de Empire” then discussing how times have changed with,
“Oonoo see how life is funny,
Oonoo see da turnabout?
Jamaica live fe box bread
Out a English people mout’”
(2472).
This stanza refers to the period of British history in which the British Empire gained wealth and sustenance from Jamaica, often through taking their resources, robbing the local population of their own crops and enslaving the population. Here, Bennett states that the Jamaicans are now on the opposite side of this interaction, taking the resources of Britain as they move there, literally out of the mouths of the locals. Bennett uses this specific allusion as a kind of spiteful satire of Britain, emphasizing the irony of events and England’s decline. Again, this serves as Bennett’s response to a kind of due payment to her ancestors who were pressured under the weight of British rule—now Jamaicans are enjoying the fruits of labour.
Therefore, Bennett crafts a poem of satirical irony that emphasizes a discrepancy between the Empire of England and its post-World-War state. Indeed, through biting sarcasm, phonetic phraseology, and frequent historical allusion, Bennett brilliantly creates a work which describes a societal reversal of large proportions. As she rejoices in the honour of her ancestors for this outcome and the paradoxical switch of roles between the British and Jamaican peoples, Bennett cleverly spites England in its requirement of assistance. Bennett revels in the glee of Britain requiring extra labor—Jamaicans emigrate to Britain “taking it over”, in her eyes. The term “Colonization in Reverse” truly is an apt title here.
[1] The dole is British slang for unemployment benefits and other such social welfare systems
Works Cited:
Greenblatt, Stephen, and Meyer Howard. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English
Literature. Norton & Company, 2013.
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