Blog 7 Tonisha Spratte

Blog 7:  Nationalism For Who?

In reading Jonno’s blog, I was stuck with a question.  He mentioned something about how American Nationalism came to be Euro-centric.  Which made me think, why would the creole put the Englishman at the top of the hierarchy before themselves?  Why were those from England revered?  Why would the people born in America allow themselves to be seen as somewhat of a “second-rate” citizen?  I think it’s the power of influence.  Like we were talking about in class, we listen to authority, (of course within a certain context) but we are eager to do what we are told.  So, these people were told to believe that the European’s were what they should to aspire to be.  One example is in Amigo, the women in the baryo could be said to have been trying to emulate the priest.  He was an authority figure and one that the women wanted to be closer to and more like.  So even religion is a means by which those in power influence and try to control the dominated people.  This reminds me of black women and their hair.  Some people would say that black women do not like their hair and that they try to make it more like other races’ hair by using relaxers and finding other methods of straightening their hair.  This was exemplified in The Colored Museum, in the scene where the woman was going on a date to break up with her boyfriend.  She had to choose which wig she wanted to wear, a straight wig or an afro, one representing the tamed African American woman and the other is most associated with Black pride.  The most important detail, but it wasn’t emphasized was the fact that it was mentioned in the film that she was bald because she had processed her own hair to the point where it had just all fell out.  So, if she wouldn’t have tried to change herself every time the wind blew, maybe she would have some hair.  This in turn is also similar, but the latter to a lesser extent, to some people over in Asiatic (see if that’s a real word) countries.  It is popular for Asians to get surgery on their eyes in order to make them look more like that of the rest of the world.  Why are these people trying to change themselves?  Why do they, black women, Asians, and the creole Americans, think that they aren’t every bit as good as or as beautiful as those in power?  Why do they feel they have to emulate another group of people?  Is it because they are purposely brainwashed by those in power? (I think that may be the case for early American creoles)  Or is it because this is what they see in the media, they see these people living lives that they think are appealing and worth emulation.  Anderson does mention that the media, the school, and administrative regulations are the ways in which commonalities are created.

I believe several factors influence why the natives and creoles kept the colonizing power at the head of the national hierarchy, one being the strategic spread of nationalism by the colonizers through the schools, the other being the mistreatment and inadequate employment available for these people, and the other being the belief that assimilation into these groups is the best way to uplift one’s self.  Anderson says that this sensation of nationalism was mainly spread to the youth through the newly popularized schooling that the children were now receiving.  The school system was used to promote nationalism.  He goes on to talk about how what they were called, effected them as well, and even though they may have come from different places and spoke different languages they were all called the same thing which was, of course, inferior to the colonizing power.  This, in turn, leads me to my next point of the treatment received from those in power is another reason for the feeling of inferiority.  Anderson notes that the importance of modern knowledge and education increased in the early 20^th century and the phenomenon of educated and unemployed had already begun.  These people, knowing that they were smart, educated, just as well qualified for various positions and jobs, yet not getting any job, or at least not anything that is related to what they were educated in, may have a drop in self-esteem over time.  Rejection from a job or occupation, just to see it go to someone else, someone who is of the same social group as the people who hold all the power has the effect of making someone feel inferior.  Another reason they may want to seem, whether in appearance or any other aspect, like they are part of the, for lack of a better term, “elite”, those who are in power, is because they also want to share in this power.  They want to make it seem like they are one of them, like they belong or that they aren’t much different than the people in power in society.  So, in changing their appearance, they believe they are making it much easier for them to ease into the “elite” inner circle.

The feeling that the people in power are the elite in society is understandable for many reasons.  Nationalism was taught through the schools to the youth in society, the natives and Non-Europeans were treated inferiorly, and in order to get involved with those in power the subaltern would try to change their appearance in order to be associated with those in power.  All of these reasons, and I am sure that there are many more, came together in order to ensure that the colonizing power is at the top of the country’s nationalism totem pole.