Colonialism and Racism

Colonialism and Racism appears as a literary theme in 4 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.

The book critiques racial prejudice through characters like Chokey, a caricatured 'colored' man whose earnest speeches about culture are met with condescension and bigotry, while the white characters' casual racism is exposed as ignorant and cruel.

The story is set against a backdrop of European colonial exploitation in Africa, depicting racial hierarchies and the brutal treatment of native peoples by colonial powers.

The narrative critiques German colonial brutality through vivid depictions of native exploitation and torture, while also reflecting period attitudes toward race, as seen in Tarzan's interactions with African tribes and his own sense of superiority.

The book reflects colonial attitudes through encounters with African tribes and Arab slavers, portraying them as hostile or primitive, while white characters are depicted as superior or civilizing forces.