52 pages • 1 hour read
Alexandra FullerDon't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Historical Context: Colonialism in Zimbabwe
British colonialism in Zimbabwe laid the foundation for the nation’s complex political journey. Initially chartered to Cecil Rhodes’s British South Africa Company, the territory then known as Southern Rhodesia later achieved self-governing status.
From 1953 to 1963, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland alongside Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). The federation dissolved in 1963 amidst Africa’s decolonization wave, leading to Zambia and Malawi’s independence in 1964. However, Rhodesia’s administration unilaterally declared independence from the UK in 1965, sparking international condemnation for its retention of white minority rule, which exacerbated internal racial tensions and spurred resistance among the Black majority.
Despite a majority Black population, the Rhodesian government favored a white settler minority and hindered locals’ political and economic advancement through segregationist policies. In response, Black nationalist movements waged an armed struggle against the administration in what became known as the Rhodesian Bush War, the Zimbabwean War of Liberation or Second Chimurenga (1964-1979). The conflict inflicted widespread violence and displacement, drawing international condemnation for human rights abuses. In 1980, the nation achieved independence and was renamed Zimbabwe, electing former liberation movement leader Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister.
The transition to Black majority rule brought about significant social changes, particularly for white settlers like Alexandra Fuller’s family. White farmers such as them, who had historically owned large tracts of land in the country, were at the receiving end of the new government’s land reform. As a means of addressing historical injustices and promoting economic empowerment for the local majority, redistribution policies forcibly transferred land from white farmers to the majority Black population, furthering the already existing tensions between the two groups.
Having lived in all three countries that composed the former federation, Fuller’s retelling of her upbringing exposes the socio-political dynamics that were at play in Zimbabwe and its neighboring countries during the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s, detailing its impact on the lives of settlers and Zimbabweans alike. Her memoir explores the legacy of racial division and trauma, shedding light on the complexities of identity, belonging, and the enduring legacy of colonialism.
Literary Context: Memoirs and Postcolonial Literature
Depicting the struggles of nations emerging from colonialism, postcolonial literature gives voice to those who experienced its impact and legacy firsthand. Postcolonial fiction and non-fiction works challenge the one-sided perspective often presented by European colonizers, exploring themes of cultural identity and the enduring effects of oppression. Memoirs and autobiographies such as Alexandra Fuller’s offer firsthand accounts from those who lived through the colonial era, illuminating the complexities of identity, power dynamics, and cultural politics.
However, as a descendant of white settlers, Fuller presents a white perspective of the complexities of national and cultural identity for postcolonial subjects. Her narrative exposes the contentious issue of land ownership and how her family and others in the broader white settler community clung to a fading sense of racial and cultural superiority in the face of a changing political landscape. Their struggle to maintain a sense of belonging and entitlement becomes a central theme in the book, as well as Fuller’s struggle as a child caught between cultures. As she grapples with a hybrid identity, Fuller’s self-awareness and candid depiction of her family’s role in colonial efforts invite readers to both question the legacy of colonialism and the often-fraught nature of postcolonial identity.
Although Fuller’s memoir earned widespread acclaim, it has also faced criticism for perpetuating certain tropes commonly associated with white settlers’ memoirs. One key critique is Fuller’s tendency to generalize her experiences and portray them as representative of “Africa“ as a whole. This is evident in the subtitle of the memoir, “An African Childhood,“ which implies a broad and all-encompassing narrative of the continent. By framing her story in this way, Fuller falls into the trap of treating Africa as a monolithic entity, overlooking its vast diversity of cultures, histories, and experiences. Critics also highlight the nostalgic aspect of her portrayal, where simultaneously rugged and innocent settlers face the harsh realities of Africa while maintaining a sense of longing for a bygone era.
While Fuller avoids a simplistic glorification of the colonial past and acknowledges the racism and privilege inherent in her upbringing, some critics argue that she fails to fully confront the implications of her family’s role in colonial rule. Fuller’s contribution to the postcolonial genre thus highlights contemporary questions surrounding the ongoing impact of colonialism and the challenges of forging identities in its shadow.
