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“Have you ever wondered why it is that all we seem to have learned from you is how to corrupt our societies and how to be tyrants?” (Kincaid 34)

This quote from Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place is significant to me because I think it encapsulates what is wrong with colonialism and a huge impact of post-colonialism. The settler colonizers were obsessed with this idea of taming the “primitive” through colonialism, but all that this conquest to “help” peripheral countries has done is completely mess up their ways of living. Settler colonialists also like to point out high crime and corruption rates of many of these countries without acknowledging that a very large basis for these issues is the colonial history. I think this passage definitely sits as a counter-narrative to tourism because it is specifically about the harsh realities of living in Antigua.

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"But some natives --most natives in the world--cannot go anywhere. They are too poor. They are too poor to go anywhere. They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in their place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go--"(Kincaid, pg. 18-19)

This passage from Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" is a striking critique of Western tourism. It contradicts the glorious clean feeling of a marvelous paradise by telling the tourists the truth of what natives have to say. Indeed, being a tourist is a selfish act towards any third world country, hence, information is not always diaplyed to the tourists for being a selfish person. Kincaid's remarks underscore the economic disparity and lack of mobility that locals face, therefore offering an other viewpoint. Kincaid points out that the same areas travelers come to for enjoyment are also areas where the residents are suffering with poverty and misery, therefore revealing the privilege that resides beneath such pictures. Unlike the Western media, which often presents the Caribbean as the perfect holiday, this is in line with It reminds us strongly that the beautiful scenery of the Caribbean are homes to people whose issues are often concealed from the rest of the world, not merely places for leisure. Kincaid's book also serves as a harsh critique of the exploitative character of travel. It clarifies the manner in which travel could sometimes help to sustain or even aggravate already existing inequalities. In sharp contrast to the tourists' ability to travel and enjoy leisure activities, the indigenous are unable to move around and are suffering financial difficulties. This passage reveals the social and economic issues that Western tourist media ignores, therefore upsetting the idyllic image of the Caribbean. It forces readers to confront the disturbing reality that people live in poverty and fight to make ends meet in the locations that are claimed to be heaven for tourists. Readers are urged to examine the everyday realities of the individuals who live in tourist destinations rather than just their outward appeal. Kincaid's work is a strong appeal to observe and challenge the disparities between guests and residents with the aim of correcting these injustices.

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"Even though all the beaches in Antigua are by law public beaches, Antiguans are not allowed on the beaches of this hotel; they are stopped at the gate by guards; and soon the best beaches in Antigua will be closed to Antiguans" (Kincaid 57-58).

This passage from Kincaid's book, "A Small Place," resonates with me because it encourages me to reflect on my relationship with the cultural and environmental atmosphere within the space that I occupy as a tourist. This passage is just one example in the book that demonstrates the fake reality that tourists are presented with, as the most beautiful spots on the island are reserved for tourists (prominently Western tourists). Kincaid highlights the power difference between Antiguans and tourists and the neocolonial structure that Antigua is situated in by exhibiting how the Antinguan government caters to visitors, such as permitting them access to public beaches, yet neglecting and denying access to locals and natives to the land which they live on. Ultimately, this quote stuck with me because I was shocked to see the drastically different impacts of tourism on the tourists, who expect and receive a "tropical paradise," versus the locals, whose "home" is given to visitors.

Kincaid's example of the problematic impacts of tourism and neocolonialism, as demonstrated in this passage by describing the limitations on how different demographics may use the land, serves as a resistance to Western tourism media representations of the Caribbean. Supporting Tucker and Akama's argument of the "myth of the unrestrained" (7), western tourism media represents the Caribbean as a welcoming tropical paradise for people to go to escape their struggles and relax. Challenging this "paradise" representation, this passage reveals that the Caribbean often has a very different truth behind the scenes, showcasing the exclusion of locals from the land and the reinforcement of colonial narratives. Additionally, although the economic benefits of tourism are generally positive, western tourism media overvalues the positive economic effects on the local and native individuals living in the Caribbean; as shown in this passage, the economic advantages may not even be reflected upon those who live there. Instead, these benefits are still controlled by foreign interests and local individuals continue to face inequalities and restrictions. Altogether, Kincaid pushes back against the romanticization of the Caribbean and brings to light the difficult perspectives of local Antiguans that are often erased through Western media.

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"But what I see is the millions of people, of whom I am just one, made orphans: no motherland, no fatherland, no gods, no mounds of earth for holy ground, no excess of love which might lead to the things that an excess of love sometimes brings, and worst and most painful of all, no tongue" (Kincaid 31).

This line from Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" struck me as significant, as she consolidates the way colonialism affects not only the land but more predominantly the people. Kincaid's writing portrays a powerful image as she delves into how post-colonialism strips people away from their land, culture, language, and voice to speak up. This passage further emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the impacts of excessive tourism and the rippling effects it carries for generations.

I believe this passage serves as a counter-narrative to Western tourism media representations as it solidifies the adversity faced by those living in Antigua as the aftermath of colonization. It is a destination that is constantly portrayed as exotic and a paradise away from home without acknowledging the exploitative facets behind the false colonial narrative.

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"As for what we were like before we met you, I no longer care. No periods of time over which my ancestors held sway, no documentation of complex civilisations, is any comfort to me. Even if I really came from people who were living like monkeys in trees, it was better to be that than what happened to me, what I became after I met you." (Kincaid,p.37)

This passage struck me because it captures the pain of losing one's identity and sense of belonging. The speaker’s rejection of their ancestral history shows how deep trauma can overshadow even the most complex and rich backgrounds. It made me think about how our experiences shape who we are, especially when those experiences are difficult or painful.

This passage also serves as a strong counter-narrative to the way Western tourism media often portrays the Caribbean. Tourist representations usually focus on beautiful beaches, vibrant cultures, and relaxation, but they often ignore the real issues that Caribbean communities face. Kincaid highlights the emotional scars left by colonialism and exploitation, things that are often overlooked when people visit for leisure.

When the speaker mentions ancestors living "like monkeys in trees," it’s a harsh critique of how colonial views have dehumanized Caribbean people. This contrasts with the shiny images promoted to attract tourists, revealing the struggles and realities beneath the surface.

The line "As for what we were like before we met you, I no longer care" shows how encounters with outsiders have transformed the speaker’s identity. It reflects a time when they viewed themselves more positively, before the influence of tourists altered their self-perception. By writing this book, the speaker expresses their emotions and confronts how tourism has changed their sense of belonging. This critique challenges tourists to recognize the complexities behind the idealized images they hold, revealing the pain and loss that often accompany such encounters.

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“The Caribbean Sea is very big and the Atlantic Ocean is even bigger; it would amaze even you to know the number of black slaves this ocean has swallowed up” (Kincaid 10).

This quote from Jamaica Kincaid's A Small Place shows significance because it brings to mind the immense and usually overlooked tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade, this emphasizes the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean as a witness to the untold suffering. The ocean which is known as a symbol for beauty and freedom in the western world is here reframed as a graveyard.

As a counter narrative this passage challenges the normally portrayed view of the Caribbean which is normally viewed as paradise and a tropical area in western tourism. The brochures for the Caribbean promotes mainly the ocean and beaches with the blue sky and it erases the history of colonial exploitation as well as the slavery that has been there and the cultural trauma that has happen. They promote the area as a playground for tourists yet the land goes much beyond what the tourists know and see such as the slavery that happen in the past.

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“Eventually, the masters left, in a kind of way; eventually, the slaves were freed, in a kind of way” (Kincaid 1988, pg. 80).

This line is exemplary of the neo-colonialism occurring in Antigua through touristic and capitalistic ventures. Kincaid writes this line to address the fact that although independence from England was granted many years ago, the colonizers and slaves remain on the island in similar power relationships to the past. A large part of this unequal relationship is due to corrupt governance and the say that Western white society has in Antiguan standing. The capitalization that England held over Antigua has not fully disappeared, but has been replaced with North American culture and tourists. Syrian and Lebanese landowners send loans for new buildings, yet Kincaid mentions that nothing new is being built. Money for developmental aid has up and vanished, and foreigners taking advantage of new developments like oil companies do not put effort in to actually support Antiguans. Decolonization has yet to take place in Antigua, as many colonial buildings and ideologies still stand as the structure of Antiguan 'culture.' Unfortunately, this quote reinforces the past colonial and slave relationships that occur in Antigua today, especially in relation to servitude of Western, white tourists. This definitely serves as a counter-narrative to Western media representations of the Caribbean, and hopefully tourists can start seeing the poverty and corruption behind the supposed 'paradise.'

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"you needn't let that slightly funny feeling you have from time to time about exploitation, oppression, domination develop into full-fledged unease, discomfort; you could ruin your holiday." (Kincaid pg. 10).

I chose this quote to represent the way tourists romanticize third world countries while traveling. As soon as tourists experience the harsh realities of the local population such as their postcolonial nature, poverty, and exploitation, they tend to feel unease and discomfort (as they probably should). However, for the tourists, this is their holiday, they came to "escape reality" and get away from their troubles, they do not want to think about the way they are exploiting and country and refuse to let the lingering effects of colonialism ruin their vacation. This quote uses a sense of sarcasm to portray the sense of entitlement and privilege tourists in Antigua have, as it is easy for them to ignore the uncomfortable truths of the exploitation and poverty that exists for locals day-to-day. She advises them not to dwell on the slight guilt they may have for visiting, as it will ruin turn "full-fledged" and ruin their vacation, but overall allowing the reader to consider the ethical implications of their travel.

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"And so everywhere they went it turned into England; and everybody they met turned English. But no place could really be England, and nobody who did not look exactly like them would ever be English, so you can imagine the destruction of people and land that came from that" (Kincaid 24).

This quote by Jamacia Kincaid really stood out to me because it showcases how much influence the English embedded themselves into the Antigua people/culture. Kincaid goes on to say afterwards how their streets are named after maritime English criminals, the streets aren't even named after the Antiguans and the fact that the streets are named after criminals (except the Governor building) shows they say the Antiguans as less. The English took from the Antiguans and did not ask, instead saw these people as something to benefit their empire while destroying the Antiguans homes and livelihoods. Later on in the book, the English leave and how I saw it was they abandoned the Antiguans and left them the scraps. I believe this quote is a counter-narrative because Antigua is meant to be a paradise but due to colonization by the English it's left poor and and is now only meant for tourism it seems.

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Individual - Maurice

"Well, possibly it's because they use leaded gasoline in these brand-new cars whose engines were built to use non-leaded gasoline, but you musn't ask the person driving the car if this is so, because he or she has never heard of unleaded gasoline." (Kincaid, pg. 6).

I chose this quote because I could not stop thinking about it after reading it. I believe that the idea of using leaded gasoline in a brand-new car (even though it is a reality there), can be seen as a metaphor to portray the current situation of what is going on in Antigua, as it highlights a place modern on the surface but still reliant on outdated or harmful systems that were established during colonial times. It confronts the reader with the harsh realities that tourists often ignore in their vacations in a "paradise" like location (encapsulating how the tourist glaze is superficial).

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“They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go” (19)

This passage really stuck out to me in this reading. It demonstrates the romanticized idea of Antigua, something that was once seen as a home but is now so far from it. It is now such a tourist destination that locals can't even support themselves in the proper way to live happily and peacefully there. The locals are too poor to enjoy the benefits from tourism and also too poor to escape like the tourists have the privilege of doing. Western tourism media portrays the Caribbean as a very tropical destination. It connects to the myth of the unrestrained, that Antigua is such a beautiful, tropical destination. Reinforcing the master-servant relationship in the images and advertisements towards tourists from the western perspective. This passage talks about the disconnect between the tourists perspective and the local reality. Tourists are eager to visit this “tropical paradise”, locals see it as a struggle. Overall this passage demonstrates the counter-narrative to western tourism, providing the perspective of a local. Giving examples of the reality which is often overlooked due to the advertisements of the Caribbean being a paradise for tourists.

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“The thing you have always suspected about yourself the minute you become a tourist is true: A tourist is an ugly human being.” (Kincaid, p.14)

The sentence really resonated with me because it confronts the reader with the unsettling truth that their presence in a foreign country especially in the Caribbean is neither neutral or benign and directly undermines the idealized notion of tourism. Kincaid urges visitors to consider the power dynamics at work as well as the ways in which their presence upholds injustice, exploitation, and a disdain for the struggles and history of the people who live there.

The glamorous, carefree picture of the Caribbean that is presented in Western travel media, where the islands are depicted as paradises with unending sunshine, beaches, and hospitable locals, is criticized throughout the book. By highlighting the colonial past and the ongoing effects of exploitation that are frequently hidden by the tourist experience, Kincaid challenges this portrayal. Instead of painting the Caribbean as a joyful haven for outsiders, she highlights the ways in which colonialism's aftereffects still plague the region, problems that tourism frequently exacerbates. By doing this, she reclaims the depth of her homeland's identity and rebels against the oversimplified, consumer-focused narratives.

In her description of a tourist as a "ugly human being," Kincaid is criticizing the way that tourism frequently entails a superficial consumption of a location's beauty without appreciating or comprehending its more complex social, political, and historical context. She saw the tourist as an embodiment of a kind of deliberate ignorance, one who enjoys a destination's amenities without acknowledging the hardships, impoverishment, and cultural heritage of the local people. The exploitation and entitlement that can accompany tourism, where local customs and environments are commodified for Western consumption, is what makes a place ugly, not the appearance of the visitor. By calling the tourist "ugly," Kincaid pushes readers to consider how, even when on vacation, they contribute to exploitative systems and uphold the legacy of colonialism.

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The passage that stuck out to me is when Jamaica Kincaid talks about the library that was destroyed in the earthquake.

“Or, why, years after The Earthquake damaged the old library building, has a new library not been built? Why is the library above a dry goods store in an old run-down cement-brick building? Oh, you might be saying to yourself. Why is she undone at what has become of the library, why does she think that is a good example of corruption, of things gone bad” (Kincaid, p. 42).

It stuck out to me as she continuously talked about the library and how it is a good representation of the corruption in Antigua. The library is a place that was built by the colonizers and a place that Jamaica went as a child to learn and read. The library represents how the colonizers created a place for the island, but after they left, they left Antigua to become a place of neglect with no government to build it back up. It also reflects how the people of Antigua have now become deprived of having the resources for the education and Jamaica describes the younger people of becoming less educated. This reflects a counter-narrative of western tourism media because if you look up Antigua and see how it is marketed towards tourists, it is described as paradise. It is made to look luxurious and a place to escape and enjoy. In reality the locals don’t even have a proper library or building and aren’t able to enjoy the island they live on. It also reflects how the tourists are not meant to see the left over colonization impacts, and how it continues to corrupt and negatively impact the locals.

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“An ugly thing, that is what you are when you become a tourists, an ugly, empty thing, a stupid thing, a piece of rubbish pausing here and there to gaze at this and taste that, and it will never occur to you that the people who inhabit the place in which you have just paused cannot stand you, that behind closed doors they laugh at your strangeness” (Kincaid 17).

I chose this passage because it shows the significant gap between how tourists think the locals perceive them, compared to how they are actually viewed. As tourists we often feel that when we travel to new places, we are always welcomed by the locals and that our presence is wanted. This is partly due to the narratives created by travel broachers and by the media, where we are shown tourists engaging with the locals who are smiling and appear to be happy. However, the interesting part was that Kincaid shows that the locals don’t actually feel this way. Instead, the tourists’ beliefs and the narratives created by the media could not be further from the truth.

This serves as a counter narrative to the western media representations, because through this passage Kincaid challenges the realities of travel. She does so by alluding to the fact that what is seen in tourism marketing doesn’t truly reflect the reality of a particular place or culture, instead it only shows the parts that are attractive for tourist. For example, the distain the locals have for tourists is something that is often ignored in tourism marketing, but that never gets mentioned in tourism media because the advertisers don’t want that part of tourism to be seen. As a result, tourists fail to recognize the discomfort they truly cause to the locals.

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"The Antigua that I knew, the Antigua in which I grew up, is not the Antigua you, a tourist, see now"

(Kincaid 23)

This quote from Jamaica Kincaids's A Small Place shows significance because it makes a clear distinction between the tourist's imagined view of Antigua and the actual experiences of the people who live there. It highlights the reality that visitors are only shown a staged, constructed portrayal of the island, leaving the real Antigua, with all of its hardships and complexity, hidden from view.

The portrayal of the Caribbean in Western travel publications as a tropical paradise where beauty, relaxation, and luxury are valued serves as an opposing narrative provided by this text. It exposes the underlying wrongs and historical traumas that the tourism industry frequently ignores in favour of maintaining the ideal image that draws travellers.

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"Have I given you the impression that the Antigua I grew up in revolved almost completely around England? Well, that was so. I met the world through England, and if the world wanted to meet me it would have to do so through England" (Kincaid 33).

Through this quote we (the readers) can understand how colonialism and westernization impacts people in the global south. This quote struck me because of my interest in studying humanitarian aid and further extending that into how humanitarian aid projects often use marketing and tactics in a way that creates this sub-group of voluntourism. This being specifically harmful and destructive to communities, culture, and understanding of the self within the world. Kincaid mentions that the impact of England and the westerner "made sure to build a school, a library" (36). These spaces then replaces and erased archival history and replaced it with dominant and heroic discourse of England and the west. These points offer a resistance and offer a perspective that problematizes these popular practices by NGO's and religious/missionary groups. These organizations market voluntourism, in a way that is exciting, while also producing affects of guilt or desire to save the other; they use media often with children or showing of extreme difference (what the west decides poverty looks like). Overall, this passage offers a different approach as it allows us to think about different types of tourism. It demonstrates how these actions take away authentic culture, language, and everyday practices of life. While the westerner may think they are doing 'good' this quote among many make us think how tourist actions don't allow people in a small place to see themselves in the larger picture (52).

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"They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go -- so when the natives see you, the tourist, they envy you.."

I have chosen this passage from Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" as it portrays the prevalent power dynamic that tourism embodies, eludes to the devastation colonialism has and continues to embed within the country, and argues the desires of humanity.

This passage made me question why tourists might want to visit a place overwhelmed by such poverty as Kincaid states. Is it to help the country economically? Is it to seek differences? Is it to be self-indulgent? I feel these reasons are all examples of tourism enforcing power dynamics, where the locals are looked at as lesser than in the eyes of the tourists. Kincaid explains this desire to travel as a means to an end, such that people long to escape their everyday, mundane lives. However, this passage exemplifies that it is not only Western tourists who have the desire to escape but rather it is embedded in our human nature. Therefore, as neocolonialism oppresses developing countries such as Antigua it makes sense that the locals feel envious of tourists who choose to 'escape' to the Caribbean; the local economic structures and corrupt governments have made it impossible for the natives to live on their land let alone travel to another.

This passage serves as a counter-narrative to Western representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination as it showcases the harsh reality of poverty for the people who live in the Caribbean rather than the luxurious paradise that is broadcasted for tourism media. Furthermore, those who visit the Caribbean/Antigua may only see the colonial narratives selected for them to see, and hide the deep-rooted colonial oppressive structures within the country.

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"Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison and murder each other, how to govern badly, and how to take the wealth of our country and place it in Swiss bank accounts?" (Kincaid pg. 34).

This passage stood out to me because it highlights the main reason for the cause of the corrupt government in Antigua. Antigua experienced colonialism by the British, before it was able to become its own nation. The idea of the corrupt government being one of the main causes of the reason for the Antiguans poor lifestyles is very important. It shows the power the government holds over the people, and it is very understandable that when Antigua became its own nation the leaders were lead by the British's ideas. This idea connects to other things as well, such as how the government has control over more than just the people. They also have control over industries, including some of tourism. They are able to control what happens within an industry to some degree and often benefit their own ministers and such, as we saw in the book. This shows how colonialism has played such a large part in the current state of Antigua. I believe this passage is a counter narrative to the idea that the Caribbean is this perfect paradise because it highlights how Anitgua is not the perfect country and how it got to this point. It shows how the ancestors of some of the tourists affected Antiguans and their country, which has resulted in it being poorly led and citizens left with minimal, if any, support.

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“You emerge from customs at the airport and you are looking at the property of a bankrupt, profligate government. You pass by a building that looks like a shabby hotel and there is a sign on it that says Mill Reef Club; you are passing by an exclusive club for rich foreigners. You pass by a man sitting behind a counter at a little booth, and you realize this man sitting behind the counter is an Antiguan. You look closely at him for signs of oppression, and you see nothing alarming. He is lazy; he is no good; he is a natural gambler, a drinker, and a liar. He refuses to live within his means. And so you move on, and you hold that impression of him. What a strange thing Antigua is." (Kincaid, pg. 6)

This passage really stood out to me as it clearly describes how you feel as soon as you land in Antigua. It makes me think of the smells and the rays of sun bouncing off of your shoulders as you step out of the airport and into the world. I like how the author described the surroundings then focused on a local person leaving a couple of stereotypes and an impression that lasts on them forever. Because of this stereotyping and the description of the land around I believe that this is creating a counter-narrative to how the western media represents tourism in the Caribbean. When shown online it looks like a beautiful, tropical, sunny place to mingle with people and have some drinks on the beach and forget about all your problems. Moreover, in this passage the author seems to go the complete other direction talking about “shabby” buildings and how an Antiguan fellow is a natural gambler, drinker, and a liar.

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One of the passages that resonated with me from A Small Place is when the author talks about the history of the comparing with what tourists view it. Jamaica says, " The Antigua I knew, the Antigua in which I grew up, is not the Antigua you, a tourist, see now." I believe this line is critical because it highlights the disconnection between the lived reality of locals and the idealized version that Antigua presents to tourists. It serves as a counter-narrative by directly confronting how the historical and socio-political contexts of Caribbean destinations have been presented to tourists all polished and manufactured to their Western desires. furthermore, she challenges the Western media's portrayal of Antigua as more than a tropical paradise by reminding readers that the tourist's experience is filtered, incomplete, and devoid of the island's true struggles with colonialism, inequality, and corruption. Last but not least, this passage powerfully indicates how tourism sanitizes and distorts the Caribbean to make it more palatable for consumption.

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“In the Antigua that I knew, we lived on a street named after an English maritime criminal, Horatio Nelson, and all the other streets around us were named after some other English maritime criminals.“ (Kincaid 24). This quote stood out to me because it made me think about how colonial history has been normalized. It made me realize how we overlook the colonial history behind the places we live and visit. This practice of naming street names after criminals serves as a counter narrative because it exposes colonial history that is often hidden or ignored in tourist marketing. It is seen that often western tourism portrays the Caribbean as a paradise, by drawing attention to the beaches and resorts while ignoring its colonial history. She draws tourists and readers attention to the lasting effects of colonialism which are still present in the daily lives of Caribbean people. By highlighting how streets are named after individuals who have oppressed and exploited locals, Kincaid challenges this simplified view of the Caribbean and is wanting this history to be recognized by creating awareness.

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"The government is for sale; anybody from anywhere can come to Antigua and for a sum of money can get what he wants" (Kincaid, 47)

This passage stuck with me because the term "the government is for sale" is a jarring and direct allegation of the political corruption the people of Antigua face. This passage is blatantly saying that anyone with money can manipulate the government and exploit the vulnerabilities of former colonies like Antigua. Another reason this passage stuck out to me was that it forces readers to critically think about the lens in which they view Antigua. Rather than looking at Antigua like a tourist destination to enjoy a beachy vacation, take the perspective of the local people of Antigua and how they see Antigua as a place where power and privilege dominate access and influence.

This passage serves as a counter-narrative to western tourism media representation of the Caribbean as a tourist destination by exposing the exploitation and inequity that emphasize the idealistic, picturesque image of the Caribbean as a tourist destination. Western tourism media often ignores these deep economic and socio-political implications that tourism places on postcolonial countries. Wealthy tourists have disproportionate access to and control over local resources, reinforcing economic and political inequity. Western tourism perpetuates the notion of the Caribbean being a commodity, where wealthy foreigners can escape to an "untouched" paradise when in reality local autonomy is undermined by foreign capital. Another way this passage serves as a counter-narrative from western perspectives on tourism is that it reveals the unequal power dynamics because most of the tourism businesses in Caribbean are often owned by investors in the West. The investors benefit the most from owning these business while the local people suffer at the hands of foreign powers. Neocolonial dynamics are exerted through tourism, especially in postcolonial countries because this passage shows that essentially anybody with money can exert control which echos colonial practices.

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Place your chosen passage from A Small Place

Explain why the line or passage struck you. Also, do you think it serves as a counter-narrative or resistance to Western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination? How so?

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"And so everywhere they went they turned it into England; and everybody they met they turned English" (Kincaid 24) This quote strikes me because it really shows the essence of colonial arrogance and cultural dominance. It fully displays this mindset of imposing identity, values, and norms onto other cultures. It shows how the Europeans felt entitled to reshape the world to resemble their own while disregarding existing cultures, histories, and peoples. This quote provides a great counter-narrative to Western tourism media by critiquing the mindset of both colonialism and modern-day tourism dynamics. It reminds us of the ongoing legacy of colonialism, where local identity and autonomy were systematically undermined and reshaped to fit Western ideals. By invoking the colonial mindset of "turning" everything and everyone English, the quote, while used in its context, hints at the ways in which tourism can continue to perpetuate colonial dynamics and strip these people and cultures of their own agency.

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“They are too poor to escape the reality of their own lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where the live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go (Kincaid, 19.)

I chose this quote because to me, I feel as though it perfectly demonstrates how privilege in tourism causes such different ideas to what a specific location can mean to someone. As a tourist, Antigua is somewhere that particularly westerners often go to escape the “harsh” reality of their jobs, (their stable source of income) and their homes, (which are most likely located in a wealthy and stable country.) Tourists come here out of choice, wealth, and privilege, while locals are here because they are trapped. For Antiguans, Antigua is somewhere that they cannot escape. It is a tropical prison that they are not able to enjoy due to the sad reality that locals face.

This quote shows how tourists glorify places like Antigua and take advantage of their privilege, as well as locals in these areas without even noticing it. It demonstrates the power hierarchy that is often present between tourists and locals, and that often affects locals in a poor way.

This quote is also a perfect example of the myth of the unrestrained, as it paints Antigua out to be this “tropical paradise,” although this is far from the Antiguan perspective. We see a counter narrative at play as well, as we are able to see the perspective not only from the tourist, but also the local.

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“You arrive at the airport. You are a tourist, a North American or European— to be frank, white—and not only that, you are a tourist who can afford to travel to Antigua... You disembark from your plane. You go through customs. Since you are a tourist, a North American or European, the moment you step off the plane, you cease to be a normal person; instead, you are a tourist, a person taking a holiday in someone else’s ruin... The thing you have always suspected about yourself the minute you become a tourist is true: A tourist is an ugly human being.” (Kincaid, 4-14)

In this passage from A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid provides a powerful counter-narrative to Western tourism’s portrayal of the Caribbean as a paradise. While tourism media presents the region as a carefree escape for privileged visitors, Kincaid exposes how these experiences depend on ignoring the island's colonial past and present struggles. Her phrase “a holiday in someone else’s ruin” reveals the exploitation behind this leisure, challenging the sanitized images promoted to tourists. By labelling the tourist “an ugly human being,” Kincaid disrupts the narrative that tourism is innocent, highlighting entitlement and privilege. This reversal of the gaze places responsibility on the visitor, forcing them to confront their complicity in systems of inequality. The passage critiques the way tourism commodifies the land and people, presenting the Caribbean not as a paradise, but as a place marked by historical and ongoing exploitation and realities Western narratives attempt to erase.

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"which only in my lifetime began to accept girls who were born outside a marriage; in Antigua it had never dawned on anyone that this was a way of keeping black children out of this school"

This quote from Jamaica Kincaid's A Small Place shows the colonialism that took place in Antigua. Headmistresses were sent from England to teach in the schools, where they then displayed pure racism, and absolute injustice. This passage struck me because Kincaid acknowledges how she thought the people from England were supposed to be civilized, when in reality, the disgusting behaviour towards the children (by the English) resulted in them thinking otherwise. Colonialism resulted in the Antigua peoples being treated with dis-respect on their own land, regardless of the fact that the Antiguan peoples were more civilized and superior than the English. Despite this knowledge, the Antiguan peoples were not able to speak up or overpower the English, hence the tragedy of colonization.

This passage serves as a counter narrative because it shows what the Antiguan peoples actually went through, instead of looking at Antigua as a glorious destination. There is nothing glorious about what the Antiguan peoples had to go through, and there never will be. The injustice that was served at the hands of the English colonizers have had long standing affects, and will continue to throughout the generations. Instead of representing strictly the beautiful beaches and water, it is vital that people learn and understand everything that happened to the Antiguan peoples during colonialism, and the remaining affects that linger today.

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"They are too poor. They are too poor to go anywhere. They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go so when the natives see you, the tourist, they envy you, they envy your ability to leave your own banality and boredom, they envy your ability to turn their own banality and boredom into a source of pleasure for yourself." (Kincaid 19).

This quote from Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" shows significance on how the people that call the tourist destination home are severely affected by the effects of tourism. This stuck out to me as it reminded me of what we learned about economic structures and exploitative relationships that came from colonialism are still very much present. Jamacia is making the statement that the people of Antigua live in a different reality then what is advertised about their home of Antigua. Tourism in Antigua has left the people that call it their home, broken. They see the rich tourists coming into their land and enjoying it and all its beauty and they are envious. Since they can't get up and leave their home to escape their struggles like the Western society can. This quote shows a counter narrative by highlighting the contrast between how the Western tourists are unaware and are catered to a false narrative of their destination. This goes along with the myth of the unrestrained, as the media shows present-day paradise is found in Antigua. This goes on to set the asymmetrical relationships of master and servant relationships between the tourists and people of Antigua. While the tourists are escaping their "boredom and banality" the people of Antigua are left not able to escape their reality, not able to enjoy their land due to neocolonialism.

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"A tourist is an ugly human being. You are not an ugly person all the time; you are not an ugly person day to day. [...] An ugly thing, that is what you are when you become a tourist, an ugly, empty thi9ng, a stupid thing, a piece of rubbish pausing here and there to gaze at this and taste that" (p. 15-17). This passage stuck with me because it has challenged my perspective of myself as a tourist. It has made me reflect on the ways i behave in a tourist destination and made me think about the "ugliness" that those actions may show. It highlights the arrogance, I< and other tourist have when traveling and the surface level observations of behaviors.

The passage serves as a counter-narrative or resistance to western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination by highlighting the typical tourism representation of the Caribbean that make it a backdrop for escapism and luxury. The Caribbean is a playground for tourists to become detached and ignorant to their better self. The statement challenges the reader to consider their impact as a tourist.

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"Even if I really came from people who

were living like monkeys in trees, it was better to be that than what happened

to me, what I became after I met you."

This quote stuck out to me as it highlights the damage colonialism has done to the author and Antiguan people in general. It emphasizes the pain and hardship that Antiguan people have felt since the moment Europe set foot on its land and grasped hold of the Antiguan people, their culture and their resources. The quote hints at the erasure of culture that colonialist powers pushed in order to assimilate Antiguan people. It also hints at the power dynamic of the "master-slave" relationship that formed since the touch down of colonial boots on the Antiguan beaches. This power dynamic and erasure of culture can been seen throughout the island. One example of this is the bank, named after slave traders. Additionally, this quote feeds into the colonialist myth that Antiguan people were less civilized and needed to be saved. The colonial powers felt the need to change Antiguan culture and instead get them to follow English ways of life, including using the English language. This is a form of colonialism called othering.

I think this passage serves as a counter-narrative. It pushes the tourist to think about what their so called "peaceful, picturesque" vacation is built on. The land they are vacationing on has spilled the blood of many, figuratively through culture and literally through slavery. It serves as an reminder that many of the people the tourist will encounter would have much rather Europe never found them to begin with. It also showcases that the culture the tourist experiences is a Westernized version.

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“St. John's was going to be developed, turned into little shops—boutiques—so that when tourists turned up they could buy all those awful things that tourists always buy, all those awful things they then take home, put in their attics, and their children have to throw out when the tourists, finally, die” (Kincaid, 48).

Kincaid is talking about how the area around the closed and condemned library will likely be developed into trinket shops for tourists to buy. This stuck out to me because yes, even as tourists we see many of these keepsakes as junk, but the perspective and context Kincaid provides was very new to me. As tourists, we also like to think that we are benefitting the local economy by purchasing these trinkets, yet we do not think about why the economy depends too heavily on our purchase of these items. Essential resources like libraries and markets are being wiped out for the more economically lucrative tourism business. When you weigh the importance between each form of St. Johns, the shops and library for the Antiguans or the boutiques for the tourists, it seems ridiculous that the boutiques are being held as more necessary. Kincaid is even more critical of this because what tourists see as keepsakes, usually end up in storage and then the trash once we die. Although these items are perceived as good, for the tourist to remember their travels, and for the locals to make money, there is a whole unique history and system which has led to the creation of these boutiques which never even occurs to the tourist. This was the main sentiment I took from A Small Place (1988), when you travel somewhere, especially in a postcolonial and developing nation, there are so many things you don’t know. Sure you can google or read about the history, you can even take a tour from a local, or better yet do a homestay and live with locals. However, from the way tourism is structured and how many of these governments are corrupt, you aren’t supposed to know or think of the social and economic strife facing local people beyond souvenirs. That would ruin the fantasy of paradise. In this entire book Kincaid is shattering the illusion of paradise, where the tourist goes for a vacation in utopia, where, yes, the people might be poorer than themselves, but they are happy, they live with nature, on a warm beautiful island, where time moves slower and life is more relaxed. Yet, these people are dealing with more complex issues than tourists could realize, even if they were trying to think of it.

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The passage in a small place that suck with me is.

"We made you bastards" rich is taken away too)

This passage stuck out to me for a number of reasons first because it's absolutely true that the English Empire enslaved many different countries in the Caribbean and Jamaica being one of them and the empire was made rich off of the backs of these slaves but the problem is with the tourists that visit these places they do not want to learn let alone hear about the country history or even it's culture no they want to go scuba diving with the the turtles and dolphins as well as get cheaply made goods and Hegel over the price of already cheap souvenirs. Something we don't do in North America or your most parts of Europe but apparently it's when you're supposed to do when you're in these developing countries because God forbid you actually have to spend more then 10$ on a homemade wind sculpture. Basically this passage stuck out to me because the people of the Caribbean were exploited and forced into slavery but there's a different European empires first was the English and then was the Spanish and now again by the American Empire although it might not be outward slavery many are still forced to work in the hospitality and tourism industry catering to Rich European and American tourists where they get pay you very poorly. That is why this passage stuck out to me is because it's true the English Empire in Spanish Empire would not be as rich or have access to the spices they did if it weren't out for their enslavement.

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“They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go—so when the natives see you, the tourist, they envy you, they envy your ability to leave your own banality and boredom, they envy your ability to turn their own banality and boredom into a source of pleasure for yourself.” (Kincaid 18)

This quote portrays the effects of poverty and the desperation felt by Caribbean natives. Not only do they feel isolated, they are struggling just to survive. They are not able to consider travel for pleasure. Tourists, despite a sense that they may be adding to the economy, offer the locals a view of what they cannot have. Travel and pleasure are not a part of their vocabulary. Society does not allow them such extravagance. According to this passage, what may be viewed as a destination by some serves as a prison to others. Poverty has become their shackles. In Western civilization, vacation is often seen as a reward for hard work. Tourists will often flock to beaches and islands for pleasure. Media representation of the Caribbean fantasizes the beauty it has to offer. Sun and water act as a means of relaxation, exploration and personal enjoyment. The experiences gained from island leisure and recreation may even leave one feeling envious of those who experience it daily. The counter narrative is that for the locals, it is actually the reverse. They envy the tourists because they have the ability and wealth to use vacation and travel as a means of pleasure. Tourists have the ability to come and go as they please. The isolation felt by the locals is a source of depression that is only exasperated by the presence of tourists. In essence, this quote highlights how envy can also lead to frustration and possible resentment towards the tourism industry.

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“For isn't it odd that the only language I have in which to speak of this crime is the language of the criminal who committed the crime?” (Kincaid 31)

This quote from A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is significant to me due to the quote being small but very impactful as a reader. Within the quote it is demonstrating the struggle that Kincaid experienced within Antigua; while trying to articulate her grievances with the colonial powers that superseded them.

While she struggles to express her life experiences in her homeland, she must do it within the own narrative and language of the perpetrating country that those problems settle with.

Within the quote it brings to light the forceful constraints the linguistic barrier places on her and even Antigua as a tourist destination. By admitting she is restrained within this “criminal” language, she directs attention to the narratives that are shaped by colonial and touristic powers; that often have a proclivity to frame the Caribbean people and place itself in a pejorative connotation.

The strength is shown within the reclamation of the language–that she uses to write her own defamatory book against colonialism and tourism that occurs within her own country. It tells a story different from the majority; instead it briefs a colonial superpower bulldozing over the historical facts that paints them within the negative light that they so humbly intended for the natives. Furthermore, it honours the complicated nature of Antigua rather than diminishing it into a scenic backdrop for their vacation brochures.

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What struck me most was the line, "Soon the best beaches in Antigua will be closed to the Antiguans" (Kincaid 58); this points toward one undeniable fact that their own people are kept out from enjoying the natural beauty of their own land. This piece is a counter-narrative against the Western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination by showing the dark side of tourism on the local communities' lives. This line is instead revealing the inequalities and injustices that might be part of the tourism industry in the Caribbean, rather than some utopian touristic Caribbean paradise. It deconstructs any idealized notion of the Caribbean and begs questions related to the position of the local people who are subject to an influx of tourists and commercialization of their homeland.

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“And so all this fuss over empire—what went wrong here, what went wrong there—always makes my quite crazy, for I can say to them what went wrong: they never should have left their home, their precious England, a place they loved so much, a place they had to leave but could never forget.” (Kincaid, 24)

This passage really stood out to me the first time I read it because it is an indirect example of one of the many impacts of post colonialism. I think this passage was so jarring to me because Kincaid is very assertive in her language towards the assertive actions of England, and she is upfront by telling readers that the colonizers simply never should have come. I appreciate the irony in this passage as well, for Kincaid implements a very dry humour to put terms of colonialism into the context that the English could not forget their home, so, in essence, they brought it with them everywhere, even where they were clearly unwanted.

This passage serves as a counter-narrative to western tourism media representations of the Caribbean when Kincaid clearly states that the English never should have left their homes, as this perfectly references the somewhat anti-tourism tone in the essay. It is heavily implied that Kincaid believes that Antigua could grow out of its “small place” restraints if it was not such a vast tourist destination, and so the referenced passage not only directly replies to the impacts of post colonialism in Caribbean locations, but also indirectly relates that, perhaps, nobody should leave their home. By this I mean that western tourists try to escape their realities by going to places “different” because tourism media represents the Caribbean as a place to escape what they are used to, but they will never be able to forget their roots and the power they hold over the Antiguans, so even when they are on vacation, they will continue to be imposing and enjoying a life in a small place that is a victim of post colonialism, and the circle of leaving home never ends. Obviously, Kincaid does not mean that nobody should travel ever, yet I take this passage to be a form of resistance awareness towards the influence of tourism media encouraging people to go impose on other communities.

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“Every native would like to find a way out, every native would like to rest, every native would like a tour. But some natives- most natives in the world cannot go anywhere. They are poor. They are too poor to go anywhere. They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go.” (Kincaid p.18-19)

I chose this passage because it captures the reality that while tourists visit the Caribbean seeking beauty and relaxation, the natives are often struggling to survive. Western media tends to portray the Caribbean as a paradise, filled with luxury, without acknowledging the difficult conditions many locals face, such as inadequate healthcare and infrastructure. Tourists often romanticize these destinations, seeing them through a westernized lens.

This passage serves as a counter-narrative to those media portrayals by bringing attention to the unseen struggles of the local population. Kincaid exposes the irony of tourists seeking an escape in places where the natives are trapped by poverty. Similarly, in the documentary Cannibal Tours, the tourists view the natives as happy and connected to nature, but they fail to see their struggles. One native even mentioned that if he had money, he too would be on the cruise ship as a tourist, but since he lacks money, he has never left his village .

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“ rain is the very thing that you, just now, do not want, … and since you are on your holiday, since you are a tourist, the thought of what it might be like for someone who had to live day in, day out in a place that suffers constantly from drought, and so has to watch carefully every drop of fresh water used (while at the same time surrounded by a sea and an ocean—the Caribbean Sea on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on the other), must never cross your mind.”

This part of the passage resonated with me because I experienced a similar narrative when I was traveling to Hawaii in April. When we landed, there was major flash flooding. I remember being slightly sad that the weather was not nice but I was also mindful of the fact that these floods could have taken out homes and left some residents in crisis. I remember being in a store listening to another tourist talk about the weather to a worker, to which the worker was consolidating the tourist saying that she hoped they got better weather for their trip and that the rain let up for them. The tourist simply agreed and did not acknowledge what it may have been like for the locals. Being on Kauai during that time made me feel guilty seeing the turmoil that the storm had caused for locals while being a part of the tourist narrative that simply had selfish motivations.

This specific passage serves as a counter-narrative to Western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination because it recognizes the underlying assumed Western narrative while also outlining the un-showcased reality. Instead of showcasing the island and residents as being unrestrained, this passage alludes to the fact that they are restrained within their environment. Though the landscape is lush, this passage emphasizes that fresh water is a luxury and that the environment is constantly suffering from drought. This is a counter-narrative because the environment is not actually as inviting or hospitable in reality when compared to Western tourism media representations. People in this environment are restrained by natural forces and are not able to escape to a ‘better place’.

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“That the native does not like the tourist is not hard to explain……But some natives—most natives in the world— cannot go anywhere. They are too poor. They are too poor to go anywhere (Kincaid, P18-19)”

When reading this part of the passage, I can understand this feeling of resentment when dealing with tourists though I believe that local populations of Caribbean vacation spots have reasons to be more resentful. Many of the nations listed on the brochures were once colonial possessions of various colonizing powers like Britian, France, and Spain who used them for economic gain while neglecting the local population. While they no longer are colonies, these nations are now reliant on funding from tourism and having to host tourists from their former colonizers or allied states (such as the US and Canada). This exchange, while economically beneficial to the nation, may rub natives of the former colonial possessions the wrong way especially if natives are serving tourists for menial pay while tourists (fairly or unfairly) can be seen just throwing their wealth around. And it really doesn’t help that many of these nations have significant portions of their population are poorer than their western counterparts. (for example, Saint Lucas (according to Wikipedia) had 16% of the their population living below the poverty line).

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"You disembark from your plane. You go through customs. Since you are a tourist, a North American or European—to be frank, white—and not an Antiguan black returning to Antigua from Europe or North America with cardboard boxes of much needed cheap clothes and food for relatives, you move through customs swiftly, you move through customs with ease. Your bags are not searched. You emerge from customs into the hot, clean air: immediately you feel cleansed, immediately you feel blessed (which is to say special); you feel free. You see a man, a taxi driver; you ask him to take you to your destination; he quotes you a price. You immediately think that the price is in the local currency, for you are a tourist and you are familiar with these things (rates of exchange) and you feel even more free, for things seem so cheap, but then your driver ends by saying, “In U.S. currency.” You may say, “Hmmmm, do you have a formal sheet that lists official prices and destinations?” Your driver obeys the law and shows you the sheet, and he apologises for the incredible mistake he has made in quoting you a price off the top of his head which is so vastly different (favouring him) from the one listed." (Kincaid pg. 1).

This quote from A Small Place by shows significance because it points out indifference when it comes to airport security and fares for certain ethiniticities.

Sticking out for me for this specific reason: Lots of issues such as rash assumptions that ride services think they can overcharge tourists and airport discrimition is a huge part of traveling today and has heavy affects on those tourists and people returning to there home country.

How does the passage serve as a counter-narrative or resistance to western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination? These price gouging methods for tourist destinations are a popular way to provide some resistance to wesetern tourists coming to places such as the carribean as they may be trying to tame there tourist traffic and rate of posting. They intend to make it slightly less appealing to western tourists intentionally.

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"and so you needn't let that slightly funny feeling you have from time to time about exploitation, oppression, domination develop into full-fledged unease, discomfort; you could ruin your holiday." (Kincaid, 10)

This passage stuck out to me because it uses sarcasm to highlight a major issue within tourism in a postcolonial context and the concept of morality of travel. When travelling there is so much history in every destination, but often tourists choose to avoid this rather than learn about the issues. I find myself doing the same thing as when I go on vacation. I am focused on relaxing and not the exploitation and oppression that has gone into creating a tourist destination. It brings to light the question of do you have to consider the history of a place when enjoying your holiday to be deemed a good and moral person.

This quote shows a counter-narrative to western tourism media representations of the Caribbean as a tourist destination as it talks about the exploitation and oppression in holiday destinations in the Caribbean. It is a counter-narrative because it states the hidden truth of these tourist destinations.

This passage also relates to the story of the Sun Peaks Resort as the dilemma face was wether or not people should be able to ski on indigenous land without a feeling of guilt because it is stolen. And it highlights the western perspective that good for capitalism is good for the natives which is not always true.

This also relates to us at school as we say we are on the traditional land of the Syilx peoples but rarely go into the detail of the effects of the land being stolen to not ruin any presentation or class.

Overall, this quote highlights the theme of the morality of the history of places people visit.

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“…the beauty of us sitting there like communicants at an altar, taking in, again and again, the fairy tale of how we met you, your right to do the things you did, how beautiful you were, are, and always will be;”(Kincaid, 42)

This portion of text was striking to me as an expression of the degradation ingrained into the social structure of the colonized place. Colonization as a self-sustaining structure is a narrative act; it tells a story of what invaders saw in the before and why it needed saving and how it’s better now and that if it isn’t you must work harder to resemble the hero. In the story of Antigua, Kincaid uses the imagery of locals as communicants to express the European's religious way of bestowing knowledge and claiming higher power.

The beauty standard enforced is important for the naturalization of colonial myths. When Kincaid discusses beauty of Antigua more widely in the rest of this section she emphasizes the way the visitors and locals disagree on so much of what deserves the title and privilege of Beautiful. Eventually, the colonizing opinion becomes the mainstream and creates an unattainable ‘dream’ for those born into that worldview. If you cannot live up to it (and they will make sure you do not), it means you somehow deserve the oppression you experience. It is a worldview that twists the perception of the self and of the land, exploiting power and insecurity into naturalized myths so that colonialism can reproduce its structure long after its instigators are gone. This passage paints a vivid picture of what social reproduction and internalization in action looks like.

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“Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison and murder each other, how to govern badly, and how to take the wealth of our country and place it in Swiss bank accounts? Have you ever wondered why it is that all we seem to have learned from you is how to corrupt our societies and how to be tyrants? You will have to accept that this is mostly your fault.” (Kincaid, p. 21).

This passage from the book struck me because I found it very moving. Even though it was just words, I could understand her frustration and her emotions. I found the style of writing to be in a confrontational tone, but it does so to reverse the typical power dynamics between colonizer and colonized. She directly addresses Western audiences, holding them accountable for the colonial legacies that continue to harm post-colonial nations like Antigua. By stating that all her people have "learned" from the West is how to oppress, exploit, and govern poorly, Kincaid positions Western colonialism as the root of these systemic failures, challenging the notion that Western civilization brought progress to colonized lands. The passage serves as a powerful counter-narrative to Western representations of the Caribbean as a paradisiacal tourist destination. While travel brochures and media tend to present the Caribbean as a place of escape, beauty, and leisure for tourists, she argues against this idyllic image by exposing the exploitative history behind such portrayals. She reveals that the people in these tourist destinations, far from living in harmony with the wealth and ease that tourists enjoy, continue to suffer from the enduring consequences of colonialism, including corrupt governments, economic inequality, and a damaged cultural identity, which is shown through this passage. I found that this passage, in particular, was offering a counter-narrative because it addresses the long-lasting impacts of colonizers on her country and how negative the impacts are. I found that she addresses the root problems brought by colonialism that continue to be perpetrated by tourism and Western narratives.

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"Antigua is beautiful. Antigua is too beautiful." (Kincaid, 77)

I love this quote because it sums up to what I believe is the whole story. Beauty is often used in tourism marketing to attract visitors. This beauty can become a double-edged sword; while it draws tourists and generates revenue, it also leads to exploitation of the land and its people. Kincaid points out how the allure of Antigua's landscapes can overshadow the harsh realities faced by its residents. She emphasizes that while tourists may revel in the picturesque beaches and lush landscapes, they may remain oblivious to the struggles of the local population, including poverty and the impact of colonialism. This creates a disconnect between the tourist experience and the lived reality of Antiguans. I think it's just such a powerful critique of how beauty is perceived in the context of tourism. It challenges people to look beyond the surface, encouraging a deeper understanding of the implications that come with shifting and changing the natural beauty and the responsibilities that tourists have toward the places they visit.

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"You see yourself taking a walk on that beach, you see yourself meeting new people (only they are new in a very limited way, for they are people just like you). You see yourself eating some delicious, locally grown food. You see yourself, you see yourself … You must not wonder what exactly happened to the contents of your lavatory when you flushed it. You must not wonder where your bathwater went when you pulled out the stopper. You must not wonder what happened when you brushed your teeth. Oh, it might all end up in the water you are thinking of taking a swim in; the contents of your lavatory might, just might, graze gently against your ankle as you wade carefree in the water, for you see, in Antigua, there is no proper sewage-disposal system" (Kincaid, p.5).

This passage struck me because it made me realize that tourists go all over the world to explore new places and encounter different types of people, but more often than not, they end up talking to people who are just like them, maybe from the same area. they find themselves having the same conversation they could have had in their neighbourhood in their search for something different. the emphasis on the phrase "you see yourself" furthers this notion.

The second half of this passage definitely acts as a strong counter-narrative to how the Western tourism media portrays the Caribbean as a tourist destination. It talks about how beautiful the sea looks (which is one of the big draws for a lot of tourists), but it also talks about how the country does not have a good sewage system in place so the beautiful water you see is not as perfect as western media will have you believe. But tourists shouldn't overthink it; it's simply "not their problem".

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A Small Place Reflection - Oreoluwa Akinpade

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A Small Place Reflection - Oreoluwa Akinpade

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"Even if I came from people who were living like monkeys in trees, it was better to be that than what happened to me, what I became after I met you.” (Kincaid, 1988, p.37)

This passage was so powerful to me, especially as a black woman from a country that is still suffering the negative impacts of colonial rule. The small place suggests that tourism is a form of neo-colonialism. This means there are still lots of ways colonialism continues to affect and play a role in countries that have gained their independence. The consequences of colonialism are so clear in A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid. This quote punches a hole through the perfect painting Western advertisements and media have framed and put up concerning Caribbean tourism. This sentence says that current conditions are so tragic and concerning that it would have been better if colonists never came at all. Jamaica says she would rather go back, and rewind from all the progress they’ve made to avoid the abuse, emotional torment, and physical labour that rooted from the first colonists/explorers rooting their feet onto Caribbean land. This contradicts Western tourism media’s representation of the Caribbean as a happy dream location, where everything is perfect. Instead, it reveals the dark history and shows how current Antiguans are still facing consequences due to actions of the past, and present. For example, the Barclay brothers rooting corrupt banking into the Antiguan economic system. The colonists and their government are great examples of how to be greedy, exploit others. Tourist advertisements recommend that people come to relax, perhaps by reading a book on the beach, ignoring that Antigua’s library has been destroyed and most Antiguans are illiterate. Advertisements invite tourists to come to relax on the beach when local Antiguans are banned from those very beaches unless they are working. Jamaica mentions how travel companies brag about the good service tourists will receive, ignoring the fact that they are training Antiguans to be good servants, good slaves, and good nobodies. Western tourism media advertises beautiful resorts, and boats while the only big houses in Antigua are ones owned by corrupt government officials and drug dealers. Antigua is advertised as a hot and dry tropical location, but the severe effects of droughts on vegetation and locals are dismissed. Western media encourages tourists to take a break from their jobs to visit Antigua, but Antiguans cannot take a break because they are too poor to travel or barely survive in the place they were born. This statement continues to tear down the perception of Antigua as a paradise and shines the light on the current state of the island. The author, Jamaica, says the statement “the ends justify the means” is cruel and incorrect. Jamaica would prefer to be called “uncivilized” than to have civilization built on the backs and graves of her people. This is impactful because it shows how much Antigua has lost and sacrificed due to colonial rule. I believe she speaks for many Antiguans on their feelings about this matter. Although, many visitors from America and Europe deemed the Antiguans to be uncivilized, the true ill-mannered and uncivilized people were them.