Song Of Ourselves

The title, "Song of Ourselves", means something very deep to the author. During the colonial period America (specifically North America), became a nation. We, the people of the USA, made a song to commemorate the special event, the Star Spangled Banner. Achebe's argument is reasonable concerning the colonizer's ethics. Why would you seize someone's land and the people in it and make a "Song of Ourselves" to honor the event? During all of this glory for the white man, nobody pays attention or pays respect to the African American. In fact, according to the author, Africa and the Africans didn't even have a history to the white man. It is viewed the same way in literature. Clergy wondered about the inner self, the existence even, of the African. Did they have a soul? If you look at literature the answer would most likely be no.

The two novels The Tempest and Heart of Darkness show forms of African Americans in a dim light. They are viewed here as one without a soul, religion, or culture. This is probably based on Christopher Columbus (a white man) and the black slaves he captured. Most likely they were viewed down upon because of skin color, which explains why the authors looked at the white man as the one who held all responsibility. For example, in Buchan's Prestor John it talks about how the dark men's job is to only fend for themselves while the white man does all the important things. It all adds up to the absence of the human mind and spirit in the African American the way they were portrayed in literature and in history. In the beginning of the story it tells how the main character was referred to by a columnist as "the man who invented African literature". This tells the reader how far Africa and Africans have gained respect concern. Africa is no longer a shadow to the world. Today we question why there are so many Africans in Ethiopia and other countries dying and starving