The Power of One - Response 3 - Chap 7-8 - Humanity

English 10 The Power of One Response 3– Chap 7-8 - Humanity

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Although some may believe that the author of The Power of One does not have an agenda, I believe that the author is trying to make statements that the natural tendency of humans is to be racist and feel themselves superior to other human beings. Peekay is still young, but he even orders around blacks and unknowingly treats them bad. The Europeans have colonized Africa. Well, why did they do it? Why did they feel so superior? And why did they decide to convert as many as possible to Christianity? Maybe it was because everyone feels a little better then everyone else.

Even Peekay is not totally immune; he is slightly racist on occasion throughout the book. He orders around his black servants, Dee and Dum, on page 139 to “put on the water and I will bathe myself.” He also insults them, “I am too old to be washed by silly girls.” He doesn’t seem to care when Hoppie starts the train without the blacks on page 63. During the fight, on page 87, Peekay doesn’t say anything about the blacks under his feet. However, Peekay is generally pretty good in comparison to some of the other characters in the book. They are even more racist then Peekay. Hoppie calls the blacks “stinky" on page 63 and disrespects the Indians on pages 76-80. Jackhammer Smit calls Hoppie a “kaffir” lover on page 81. Peekay’s mom holds servants, who she treats like slaves. There are also many more examples in the book. Every white person in the book, Peekay included, at one point or another felt better the natives of Africa. The entire Boer and English society disrespects the natives and looks down on them as undesirable.

Why is this? Why do the white settlers feel so superior against the native Africans? Why do they try to shove Christianity down their throats? Everyone thinks that they are a bit better then others. One’s belief in religion can foster that thought. Everyone thinks they know who is “god,” and how we were created. Some even take their beliefs too far. Peekay’s mom is a perfect example. She converted Dee and Dum to Christianity and fired Nanny for not converting. She called the medicine man a “disgusting, filithy, evil old man” and “a witch doctor” on page 141. Her religion is the main factor she despises this African so much; this is a perfect example of how Christianity over ran her. These Christians felt like it was their duty to convert theses “barbaric” Africans. She and other Christians can only see it her way. And her way is the right way. Her belief in her religion makes her miss the equality. Her religion thinks that they are superior to the native Africans.

And it’s not just Christians, but all Europeans. It’s not just religious, but pride as well. Europeans sailed into Africa with their machine guns and they now think they own it. They think that they are better then the Africans. But are they superior? I think that the author of The Power of One is trying to show that withes and Christians are not as superior as they think they are, because all humans think they are better then others.