“Until the lions have their historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter” This great proverb was a favorite of the influential author, who wrote Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe. Achebe understood the value of storytelling. As a writer, the history of the hunt must be recorded, not only to glorify the hunter, but to reflect his agony and the courage of the lions. Perhaps it is precisely from this proverb that Achebe drew inspiration for his novel Things Fall Apart. Achebe became a lion historian with his first novel, telling a story of disguise and loss, showing the devastating effects of colonialism on a Nigerian village. Many say that Achebe wrote this novel in response to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Conrad's novel follows a white man and his journey through Africa. Both novels center on ideas as old as time: colonialism and imperialism. These two ideas appear to be the causes of a chain of events that led to racism and discrimination in colonized countries. Using Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and modern and historical examples of cultural takeover, the harmful effects of colonialism and imperialism will be uncovered in this essay. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Along with the resources, wealth, and power exploited by Western cultures in other countries, the idea of ​​a white savior complex arose from the intense period of colonialism. While it may not be blatantly pointed out, both novels express this idea through their plots. In Things Fall Apart, white colonizers abruptly interrupt Okonkwo and his family's Nigerian culture. The colonizers impose their culture and Christianity on Okonkwo's community. This is disguised under the idea of ​​missionary work, when in reality it is the truest form of colonization. From a young age, we are taught that the West is the hero of the world, fighting oppression and bringing democratization to every state, but in reality a white savior complex is developing. Western countries believe they are helping developing nations, but there is an underlying selfish purpose. In both novels this is shown. The colonizers have the same attitude of civilizing the savages. If real help is needed, then Westerners must distance themselves from ethnocentric beliefs. There is a fine line between trying to help a foreign community and imposing your culture on another society. These themes from the novels are also present in real life. For example, one of the most important periods in the racial formation of the United States would have to be the early periods of the colonization of the United States. Native Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans were all victims of the racial conflicts of this period (Fitzgerald). During this time these groups were forced to leave their homes and voluntarily surrender to the white man who thought it was his duty to bring civilization to these "inferior races". Many times these groups were killed for resisting, and if they were not killed, they were treated very differently because they were considered uncivilized savages. Due to their racial inferiority, these marginalized groups were forced into slavery and extensively exploited by whites. This exploitation has led to years of discrimination and left little room for these marginalized groups to thrive in a pressing society that has not given themnever considered equal. Today we still see a reflection of this attitude. Many times radicalized groups such as undocumented immigrants are exploited, forced to work strenuous hours for low pay similar to the system of slavery that Black people faced. White attitudes of superiority are also still reflected in today's society, for example the idea of ​​white privilege. If there were no sense of white superiority in today's society, the argument for the existence of white privilege would not be valid, but it is. White privilege is prominent in our society today and serves as evidence against this idea of ​​color blindness. Some scholars argue that we live in a color-blind society, but this is simply not true. The very existence of white privilege in our society is an indication that we are not a colorblind society. To avoid situations like those included in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall apart, it is necessary to use cultural relativism in approaching foreign cultures. To illustrate a modern example, Rachelle Cassman wrote an article about female genital mutilation (FGC). In his article he provides various arguments in defense and against the FGC. The main argument that Cassman is trying to convey is that if we want to take a stand on eradicating practices like FGC, then we must do so with a cultural relativist approach, otherwise we will not succeed. FGC is still an important practice and part of many cultures around the world. His practice imposes a series of questions on human rights issues, health issues and gender discrimination. While these are all pressing issues, Cassman emphasizes the need to understand FGC in the cultural, religious, and ethnic context in which it is practiced. By analyzing the particular problem of FGC, the reader gains new insight into how important it is to fully understand a community's culture instead of simply making assumptions about a culture that is not our own. In his article, Cassman explains the importance of FGC in different cultures. FGC is a practice deeply rooted in honor, sexuality, religion and tradition. It is linked to socioeconomic status and influences a woman's overall acceptance in her community. For many mothers, FGC is crucial to their daughters' chances of marriage and economic future (Cassman 135). So, in fact, there are various factors surrounding the practice of FGC, many of which Western feminists are unaware of. This is one of the main reasons why Western opponents fail to eradicate practices like FGC. They focus primarily on the human rights violations and health problems caused by FGC, ignoring the cultural context, and essentially come off as arrogant towards natives. While it has been documented that women who have undergone FGC are more likely to contract HIV, have painful periods, urinary retention, painful sexual intercourse, and fatal pregnancies; the way Western opponents articulate their arguments can many times leave natives feeling like they are being judged (Cassman 137). They perceive Western opponents as condescending; and they feel like they are just trying to impose their own Western culture on them (Cassman 140). This is where the reader learns the importance of cultural relativism. You should not believe that certain cultural practices are "bad" simply because your culture does not accept them. If this is the case, then it confirms the belief that one culture is superior to all others. It is essential that all cultures are considered equal. A community cannot be helped if it believes it is oppressed.You need to show them that you understand the cultural importance of their traditions and practices. Cassman provides examples of where and how FGC has been successfully eradicated and explains why in some cases it has not been successfully stopped. In Egypt the original ban against FGCs was lifted and only reinstated once educational programs were put in place to educate the public about the religious myths surrounding FGCs (Cassman 150). In Senegal, the implementation of Tostan, an educational program, has caused a new wave of intolerance to FGC among women and men in the community. The main point made by Cassman is the importance of implementing education. Cassman argues that trying to eradicate FGC solely on the basis of human rights laws is ineffective. She writes “culture may change the law, but the law will not change the culture” (Cassman 145). The main point of this argument is that without fully understanding FGC and finding a balance between “cultural integrity and international human rights,” FGC will continue to be practiced and perpetuated. By implementing educational programs, the community learns about the harmful effects of FGC and the myths surrounding FGC. Of course, this education must be very specific to the community. It must be approved by local leaders and real people in the community. This is not only true in the case of FGC, but in every case. When addressing a particular cultural practice being discussed, it is important that there is an educational point of view as opposed to condemnation and emphasis on the illegality of the practices. The second point highlighted by Cassman is that these educational programs must be carried out by the local community. She writes: “It is vital that African women are empowered by African women so that trust and credibility is established and the message is respected.” This reflects the idea that many times Natives are skeptical of the intentions of Western feminists and humanitarians. These communities will not respond well to condemnation of their practices and so they are best addressed by their own communities and not by outsiders who believe they have all the answers and solutions. It is crucial to analyze cultural practices in the context of that particular culture and make sure you don't let your cultural biases influence his or her judgment. In Things Fall Apart, the idea of ​​cultural relativism is completely ignored. Igbo culture is completely taken over by European colonizers. Using the guise of religion, Europeans slowly enticed more members of their culture to convert. Eventually the culture dissipates and resembles the culture of a European city. In Things Fall Apart, the reader sees the culture fall apart through Okonkwo's eyes. His resistance to accepting European culture may seem unprogressive to white readers. While he tried to remain true to Igbo culture, his flaws were accentuated, as he mismanaged his disapproval and resistance, which led to his death. Some may see Okonkwo as stubborn and reluctant to change, but as Cassman argued, when a foreign culture is suddenly imposed on the natives, there is not much else to consider other than oppression. In Okonkwo's eyes, he is the hero of his story: the savior of his culture. This is what Achebe was trying to address by writing Things Fall Apart in response to Heart of Darkness. In Heart of Darkness, the novel shows a glimpse into Native life after colonization. It focuses exclusively on the perception of Marlow, a white sailor. Conrad uses Africa as a simple setting for a white man's journey of self-discovery. Achebe explains: "Heart of Darkness projects the image of Africa as 'the other world,' 24.2 (1983): 2-20.