Document Type
Journal Article
Abstract
It would be unfair to see the figure of John Paul II on his knees on African soil during one of his many visits to the continent as the epitome of the White person's desire to atone for the many sins against Africa and its people. Unfair, but not entirely unreasonable; true, Pope John Paul II had a thing about going down on his knees. Nevertheless, the image remains an uncannily powerful one, not least because Christianity has long had an uncomfortable relationship with the African continent. Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, has remarked that "Imperialism and colonialism became sanctified by Christian grace" (Baugh 49).
ANZSRC / FoR Code
2005 LITERARY STUDIES
COinS
Publication Details
Simoes da Silva, A. J. (2007). "On your knees, white man": African (un)belongings in Rian Malan's 'My traitor's heart'. Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and History of Ideas, 5 (2), 289-307.