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A review by j_dyzzle
Hopes and Impediments: Selected Essays by Chinua Achebe
1.0
While Achebe does make some valid points in his varies speeches and essays, as a reader, I am unfortunately blinded by his tone and ferver. Achebe looses some of his academic cred the moment he calls Conrad "a bloody racist". He even seems to go so far as to say that anyone who doesn't think Conrad is racist is inherently racist themselves.
There are some interesting sections regarding the need for communication between cultures, and the things that have prohibited a proper line of communication up until now.
However, there comes a point when you push your point so hard that you turn onto the person that you are arguing. At times, I feel as though Achebe crosses this line. Yes, it is absolutely true that the lines of dialogue are often unfortunately one sided, and that the lesser spoken communities in Africa have much that they can teach the rest of the world. However equality in traditional terms, would dictate that they be willing to listen to outsiders without such resentment. Each country should learn from each other, not just one preaching at the other. No matter who is doing the preaching.
Perhaps it is simply the form of the book, in putting all of his arguments, and sometimes, rants, together, but at times it feels as though Achebe is looking for something to be upset about. So perhaps reading the whole book cover to cover and taking it as fact would not be the best way to take in the book or Achebe's philosophy.
I disagree with Achebe on many points, (for example Descartes) but that does not mean that I think he is completely wrong. I would just hope that he would respect my having an opinion on matters that might be different from his.
There are some interesting sections regarding the need for communication between cultures, and the things that have prohibited a proper line of communication up until now.
However, there comes a point when you push your point so hard that you turn onto the person that you are arguing. At times, I feel as though Achebe crosses this line. Yes, it is absolutely true that the lines of dialogue are often unfortunately one sided, and that the lesser spoken communities in Africa have much that they can teach the rest of the world. However equality in traditional terms, would dictate that they be willing to listen to outsiders without such resentment. Each country should learn from each other, not just one preaching at the other. No matter who is doing the preaching.
Perhaps it is simply the form of the book, in putting all of his arguments, and sometimes, rants, together, but at times it feels as though Achebe is looking for something to be upset about. So perhaps reading the whole book cover to cover and taking it as fact would not be the best way to take in the book or Achebe's philosophy.
I disagree with Achebe on many points, (for example Descartes) but that does not mean that I think he is completely wrong. I would just hope that he would respect my having an opinion on matters that might be different from his.