A Small Place Lesson Plan

How would you answer Kincaid's question as to whether "self-ruled" Antigua is worse than it was under British rule?

Is there a clear answer here? Students can make pro and con charts to clarify their own answers. On one hand: self-ruled Antigua is theoretically a democracy. The ruling class is no longer exclusively white-skinned and British. There are opportunities to excel in areas that were banned or highly discouraged by the British (industry, ownership of hotels, eating a sandwich at the Mill Reef Club).

On the other hand: in British Antigua corruption was less obvious -- or at least less of an open free for all. The Middle Eastern businessmen did not completely run...