Chinua Achebe Interview Shared Inquiry Discussion

Through the presentation of factual, interpretative, and evaluative questions within the in-class discussion, much about the cultural and literary context of Achebe's work was studied. In summary, African literature reveals a variety of perspectives of a story, as opposed to focusing on one, while linking to a world-wide issue of oppression; consequently a mutual global chain is formed to tie the author, the characters, and the international readers all together. Furthermore, Achebe clearly outlines his position on the exporting of American culture that is highly concentrated within literature. He believes that excess exporting of American culture initiates imbalance of stories, as one side of the story is highlighted through the excessive focus on America's culture, ideas, and behavior. Moreover he considers it to be toxic as people are limiting themselves to one side of the world.

In reference to the interviewer's excerpt of a quote said by Nadine Gordimer in an Atlantic Unbound interview this past winter: "English is used by my fellow writers, blacks, who have been the most extreme victims of colonialism. They use it even though they have African languages to choose from. I think that once you've mastered a language it's your own. It can be used against you, but you can free yourself and use it as black writers do -- you can claim it and use it."

The quote stated above clears the air for black writers, in regards to their extensive use of the English language, as opposed to African languages, within their writing. I most definitely agree with Nadine Gordimer that the African's lack of administrative power lead to the colonization of many African countries. As a result English, in which is the universal language, was spread throughout, claimed by them, and used in order to strengthen their success within the writing industry to be reached to a larger and global audience; and through the use of English arises internal liberty within the black authors, which is positively demonstrated within their pieces of writing.