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Postcolonial theory is the examination of the various ways that colonization affected, and continues to affect, our world. We can examine texts through postcolonial themes, such as otherness, identity, racism, oppression, class, diaspora, and globalization. It is also important to address the expanding definition of what counts as a text. Texts are not just books, but can also include comic books, movies, television shows, music, fashion, and any other culturally perceived object; almost anything is readable, especially when using a postcolonial lens.

Postcolonial theory gives us the tools to explore texts and how and why they were created. We can also learn things about how the world and society function through these connections. We need to look at the things that colonization did to not only create new problems, but also intensify the ones that were already there. Postcolonial theory gives us an opportunity to do this. Additionally, colonialism has created lasting changes in our world. Can we ever really be a postcolonial world when there are still powers who are active and involved in other countries that are not their own? For example, the United States continues to take advantage of Native Americans, like they did during the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy.

It’s easy to say that everything was the colonizer, but what happens when the colonizer looks like the people who are being oppressed? When those in their own communities sell others out? Are there conscious attempts in fiction to undo the effects of colonization? Can these be effective if they are written in the colonizers language? For example, Chinua Achebe chose to write Things Fall Apart in his colonizer’s language. What are the implications of this? I do not think that he was trying to give the colonizer (white, Western Christians) power, but was more concerned with the feasibility of writing in an African language. If you write in an indigenous language will it get published? Who will read it? It is also important to consider the fact that some languages are only oral or may not have standardized ways to write. Another point to consider is Achebe’s audience. Who was he writing to? The postcolonial themes of language, race, oppression, imperialism, and racism all go into this discussion, and help break down the complicated links between these lenses and Achebe’s text.

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The postcolonial theme that resonated with me the most is oppression because it is connected to all the other themes in interesting and important ways. There are many people who say that certain groups of people, such as African Americans and Native Americans, are no longer oppressed. However, this is not the case. Despite the progress we have made, there are still many groups of people who are oppressed, and much of that oppression can be traced back to colonization.

The themes of race and oppression go hand in hand, and it is difficult to talk about one without mentioning the other. The dominant society has pushed people of color to the margins from the very beginning of the creation of the United States. White Europeans murdered Native Americans and stole their land. This mistreatment has continued, and the effects of this on native communities is shameful. The history of slavery is well known, as is the mistreatment of people of color, especially African Americans. While the Civil Rights Movement did accomplish many amazing things, there are still many issues that have not been dealt with. Postcolonial theory has given me a means of expressing and examining these issues that exist in our society. These issues are real, and although I do not have any answers or solutions, the lens of oppression can help me become more educated about social injustice issues. This will in turn allow me to make more informed decisions about these issues when it comes to things such as voting (and not just in presidential elections but in local ones as well) and volunteering with certain charities and groups. It is because of these reasons that the theme of oppression is so important to me.

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Hamilton: An American Musical
The entire premise of Hamilton: An American Musical is based on a subversion of the typical story of the founding fathers. Lin-Manuel Miranda puts race at the forefront of his musical, and re-centers this historical narrative in exciting and engaging ways. The fact that the entire cast of Hamilton is made up of people of color is important, and adds another layer to the musical. The postcolonial theory of race is seen through the retelling of a dominant narrative that usually only focuses on the whiteness of the founding fathers. Hamilton works especially well with postcolonial theory not only because of its inclusive and diverse nature, but also because of the fact that this time in history was the beginning of imperialism and colonization for America, as well as other world powers. Alexander Hamilton was actually an immigrant from the Caribbean, meaning that those islands were already colonized by the time Hamilton was born. It is also important to mention the barriers Miranda is breaking through his success. He is a Latino who has made it on Broadway, a space that is known for being elite, and that offers few opportunities to people of color. Miranda was creating a space not just for himself, but for others as well.

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This is "70th Annual Tony Awards 'Hamilton'" by US/NYC Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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H&M Online Ad
As recent as January 2018, fashion retailer H&M was at the center of a controversy for using a black child to model a sweatshirt with a "coolest monkey in the jungle" slogan. Sweatshirts from the same line featuring other animals were modeled by white children. If we use a postcolonial lens to examine this ad it is very apparent that race is the theme.  It is undeniable that the association of a black child and a monkey is extremely racist. Whether or not H&M intended to send a message of racial difference, that is the story that was told with just one picture. Although H&M apologized and stopped selling the hoodie, it is hard to believe that they were not aware of how racially and culturally insensitive this ad actually was.

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70th Annual Tony Awards 'Hamilton'. (2017). Retrieved April 23, 2018, from https://vimeo.com/192298842

Achebe, C. (1959). Things Fall Apart. New York, Anchor Books.

(n.d.). H&M: G-Eazy and The Weeknd cut ties over 'coolest monkey' hoodie. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/10/news/hm-racism-monkey-g-eazy-weeknd/index.html