PdF: AJ2BP_CRRECritical Reading
19th December 2014
Antoinette as a Victim of Black Racism
The aim of this paper is to present evidence that Wide Sargasso Sea is a reproduction of reality by showing examples of black racism taken from the book. It shows the reality of Antoinette as a fiction character perceived as a victim of black racism. Although most readers of Wide Sargasso Sea have considered racism as one of the topics closer examination shows that the book gives examples of a specific kind called black racism (Nibras Jawad, 591). This paper uses elements from the book, and aspects from the reality that support the idea that the book includes black racism as one of the topics. For example, exclusion of Antoinette caused by black community because she is the daughter of a white Creole woman and a former slave-owner of English descent in Jamaica. This is showed in the book when black people use disparaging words like white cockroaches to call her. The phrase "white cockroach" was applied in a song saying that nobody wants her (Jean Rhys, 20). According to a research from Eastern University of Philadelphia phenomenon of racism is a result of the combination of discrimination, prejudices and ignorance. (Caleb Rosado). Racism has been a topic of inspiration for many writers. This is the case of Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. The writer tells aspects that she could have experienced since Jean Rhys was born in 1890 on the island of Dominica in the West Indies to a Welsh father and a Creole (white West Indian) mother. She identified more with Dominican than with English culture, her ancestry complicated her relationship with the island people (Nibras Jawad, 590). In other words, the author focuses on double culture as a reason of feeling marginalized, and Antoinette the main character from Wide Sargasso Sea can be her mirror. Antoinette is described as a white girl who is not accepted by black people because of her color skin and descent. Accordingly, her childhood is told as a dark world because of the environment that black people create around her being affected by their rumors, opinions and lifestyle until the point of feeling of belonging nowhere. It is clearly noted when Antoinette says that she got used to a solitary life (Jean Rhys, 20).
Writers believe that racism in general comes from some specific factors by considering discrimination as the unequal treatment of individuals or groups on the basis of some, usually categorical, attribute, such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or social class membership. Otherwise, prejudice is an attitude. When it results in an action, it becomes discrimination being the basis for racism (Caleb Rosado). In Wide Sargasso Sea discrimination is presented when Antoinette is isolated by black people. Although she has black people as servants, she is the white cockroach for them. The attitude of black people towards her is of hatred due to her origins. According to some readers Antoinette has increasingly been desperate in searching for social acceptance, so she attempts to fit herself into the role of the Caribbean native. She tries to embrace black characteristics in her attempt at friendship with a dark-skinned child named Tia" (Nibras Jawad, 592). The foregoing proves the hard situation that Antoinette has, since she just wants to avoid loneliness and isolation which is a condition likely as a result of discrimination.
Another factor that creates racism is prejudice which set one concept: ignorance. All of us tend to have prejudicial attitudes towards others; it is a normal human response to racial, social, sexual and other forms of differences, because human beings tend to prejudge others on the basis of limited knowledge, especially if they are different from us (Caleb Rosado). In the book, Antoinette is not accepted by black people because of her double culture considering her different from them. But she tries to fit in the black world being friendly with black people which is perceived when she mentions that Tia was her friend who met every morning at the turn of the road to the river (Jean Rhys, 21). Actually this happens; white people try to fit into black world. As an example, an article from Daily Press that tells about a white girl who attended to a Black high school. This girl wanted to look like her stepsiblings and classmates with their brown skin, rounded afros since it was the only way to be part of the group (Angela Forest). In other words, Wide Sargasso Sea is not just words since it states a problem that exists in society until now according to a study from Eastern University Philadelphia which aims that as the dawn of the 21st century nears, racism is one the most persistent social problem in America and in the world today which is on the rise in increasing ways (Caleb Rosado).
In brief, Wide Sargasso Sea provides examples of black racism being Antoinette the main victim of this problem. The book gives examples of how discrimination, prejudices and ignorance can create an overwhelming world for black and white people. Accordingly, discrimination, prejudices and ignorance are factors that foster racism. Two main examples from the book are the following, first disparaging words from black people like white cockroaches toward Antoinette. Second, Antoinette does not find her happiness looking for fitting in the world. The book is a reproduction of the reality creating a recall for a better understanding and respect for all races and cultures by providing an overview of people who are victims of racism.

Primary Source:
Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea. New York: Norton, 1992. Print. Secondary Sources: Forest Angela. "Racism Recalled From Other Side". Daily Press. 06 Mar. 2004.Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://articles.dailypress.com/2004-03-06/news/0403060722_1_white-girl-black-racism˃. Jawad Nibras. "Iraq Academic Scientific Journals". Iraq Academic Scientific Journals.22.3 (2011). 590-592. Web. < http://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=2052 > Rosado Caleb. "The Undergirding Factor Is POWER: Toward an Understanding of Prejudice and Racism." The Undergirding Factor Is POWER: Toward an Understanding of Prejudice and Racism. Department of Urban Studies Eastern University Philadelphia, PA. n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. < http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/caleb/racism.html >.