First, they said we were savages.
But we knew how well we had treated them and knew we were not savages.
They they said we were immoral. But we knew minimal clothing Did not equal immoral.
Next, they said our race was inferior. But we knew our mothers and we knew that our race was not inferior.
After that, they said we were a backward people. But we knew our fathers and knew we were not backward.
So, then they said we were obstructing Progress. But we knew the rhythm of our days and knew that we were not obstructing Progress.
Eventually, they said the truth is that you eat too much and your villages take up too much of the land. But we knew we and our children were starving and our villages were burned to the ground. So we knew we were not eating too much or taking up too much of the land.
Finally, they had to agree with us. They said: You are right. It is not your savagery or your immorality or your racial inferiority or your people’s backwardness or your obstructing of Progress or your appetite or your infestation of the land that is at fault. No. What is at fault is your existence itself.
Here is money, they said. Raise an army among your people, and exterminate yourselves. – Alice Walker |
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