The Hate Race Essay Questions

What is the significance of the name of the hotel where Bordy and Cleopatra stay upon arrival in Australia?

The Man Friday Hotel where Clarke's parents stay upon arrival in Sydney is significant because the name serves as a symbol of the racial insensitivity prevalent in 1970s Australia. When Clarke's mother and father relocate to Australia for Bordy's new position as a university lecturer, the university arranges their stay at the hotel. However, upon their arrival, Clarke's parents are disturbed to discover the hotel pays homage to a racist portrayal of an indigenous person in Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe, written in 1719. Clarke mentions that her parents, along with the Black British community back home, are well aware of this character, described as a "Carib cannibal turned loyal servant of Robinson Crusoe." Being in a hotel that celebrates such an absurd portrayal deeply unsettles Clarke's parents throughout their stay, and they wonder if they have accidentally relocated to a country where racial insensitivity is more pervasive than it is in the UK.

Why does Clarke repeat phrases related to the "West Indian way of weaving a tale"?

Throughout The Hate Race, Clarke frequently reiterates a variation of the phrase: "That folklore way West Indians always have of weaving a tale. This is how it happened—or else what's a story for." This motif initially emerges when Clarke reflects on the narrative surrounding her grandparents' journey to London and her parents' subsequent decision to move to Australia. While retelling these familiar accounts, Clarke acknowledges that they may not be entirely factual, implying that it is a tendency within Afro-Caribbean culture to embellish personal histories in order to create more compelling narratives. When she revisits this phrase later in her memoir, Clarke acknowledges that although she presents her story as a factual account, she might be manipulating or inventing certain aspects of her life in accordance with the storytelling tradition of her West Indian family. Through this approach, her narrative becomes a representation of "what happened," even if it deviates from strict factual truthfulness. Ultimately, this motif emphasizes the major theme of storytelling and its importance to both Clarke and her ancestors.

What is the significance of the Golliwog Biscuits Marcus eats?

The Golliwog Biscuits that Clarke's boyfriend, Marcus, eats are significant because they are a symbol of ignorance and everyday racism. During her childhood, bullies often call Clarke "golliwog," an insult aimed at hurting her by associating her with a once-popular children's toy that depicts a black-faced doll with red lips and frizzy hair. This racially insensitive minstrel doll was also used to promote products like Arnott's Golliwog Biscuits. When Selina and Clarke enlighten Marcus about the racist nature of the cookies he is eating, he dismisses their concerns, pointing out that they have been renamed Scalliwag Biscuits (a precursor to the product being discontinued in the late 1990s). The sight of biscuit crumbs trapped in her boyfriend's braces lingers in Clarke's mind, causing her to impose an emotional distance between them. Perturbed by his lack of understanding regarding her feelings towards these racist biscuits, she finds it difficult to trust that Marcus won't trigger her with other racist microaggressions.

What role does overt racism play in The Hate Race?

As one of the memoir's major themes, overt racism plays a significant role in The Hate Race. Characterized by explicit expressions of racial prejudice, overt racism first emerges in the prologue set in the present day. When a stranger in a car hurls violently racist slurs at Clarke, the abuse brings forth memories of other verbal attacks she endured during her youth. As the narrative shifts back in time, Clarke recounts similar instances in which the bullies she faced in school exhibited the same cruelty and aggression as the stranger. Growing up as a Black minority in Australia, Clarke constantly hears derogatory slurs such as the n-word, blackie, Golliwog, monkey, and other dehumanizing names. The racist tactics can also be physical, with bullies throwing rocks at her, intimidating her by crowding her, or covertly slashing her sketchbook with a knife. Ultimately, though, these instances of overt racism are not the only issues Clarke deals with, as insidious everyday racism and political rhetoric also take a psychological toll.

Why does Clarke include mention of the changing political climate when writing about her personal history?

Clarke's observations about the changing political climate are significant to her personal history because they are an indicator of institutional racism, which can affect how individuals are treated and perceived within a society. Clarke introduces the theme of institutional racial discrimination while discussing the reasons that prompted her parents to migrate to Australia in 1976. Clarke reveals that the political reforms initiated by the Labor government under Gough Whitlam made Australia appear more appealing than the UK, where anti-Black sentiments propagated by politicians like Enoch Powell were gaining momentum. However, upon their arrival, Clarke's parents are confronted with the lingering effects of the White Australia policy, which sought to limit immigration and upheld white supremacist ideology. Decades of living under tacitly white supremacist governments influences the attitudes of the Australians that the Clarke family encounters in the 1970s and 1980s. Conditioned by their institutions to harbor disrespect, fear, and hostility towards non-white people, these citizens reflect on a one-to-one level the racism of their political leaders.