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AnalysisofSuriname

Pages225235intheLandscapes,Narratives,andTropicalNature:Creolemodalityin
Surinamebasicallybasicallytalkedaboutdifferentwaysblackpeoplestoodoutandadaptedin
timesofperilwhen(european)foreignersbasicallytookoverthecountrytomakeittheirown,
createplantations,andbondthenativecoloredpeoplesasslaves.Italsotalksabouthowthe
invadersunderstoodthenativeracetobesubordinateandodd.Sincethetwopartiescame
fromverydifferentbackgroundsandhistories,Itwasnaturalthattheywouldfindeachother
odd,butthedifferencewasthattheinvadersviewedthenativesaslesserbecausetheythought
thattheyweresuperior,sotheytreatedthemwithdisrespect.Iwilltalkabouttwosuccessful
nativeswhobrokepastracialstereotypesandbecamepillarsoftheirrespectivecommunities,
ElizabethSamson,andMaxiLinder.Iwillalsotalkaboutthefamous
Kankantri
,averyspecial
andreveredKapokboomtree.

ElizabethSamsonwasanblackwomaninSurinameinthemidtolate1700swhowas
thefirstwomantosuccessfullymarryawhiteman.Atthetime,interracialrelationshipslike
herswereunlawful.Shewasbornfreefromslaveparents,andeventuallygrewtobecomethe
richestwomaninParamaribo,wherehermoneyandstatusgarneredherrespectbybothwhites
andblacks.Somesay,sinceshewasalreadywealthy,sheonlywantedtomarryawhitemanto
achieveequalstatustothewhitepopulationthere.However,shewasalreadyarespectedmember
inthecommunitysoonecouldsaysheachievedquasiequalstatusalready.


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MaxiLinderwasaprominentandsuccessfulprostitutethatlivedinthesamecityand
timeperiodasElizabethSamson.Inherheyday,MaxiLinder,despiteherprofession,shewas
adistinguishedmemberinthemultiracialcommunitybecauseofherwealthandaptnessto
donatetopeoplelessfortunatethanherandsupportotherpeopleinbothherprofessionandthe
politicalcommunity.Unfortunately,asshegotolder,shelostherstatusinthecommunityand
wastreatedasanoutcastuntilshediedtragically.Maxiswealthanddonationstoamultitudeof
peopleinhercommunitygarneredtherespectofthewhitesintheareaandgaveherahigher
statusthanotherpeopleofhercolor.

TheKankantriisanfamousKapokboomtreeinSuriname.Itissaidtobebethebiggest
andoldestone.WhatmakestheKankantrispecialisthatityieldsaspecialcottonusedfor
everythingfrommakingpillowstoweavingstomedicine.Manysurinamesehave(basically)
idolizedthetreeforhundredsofyearsbringingitofferings,loungingaroundit,andhaving
churchunderitsbranches.Thenativesbelieveitbringspeaceandtranquilitytothearea.The
whitepopulationdidnotunderstandthisidolizationandalmostpraiseofantree,untilthe
comparisonofworshippingatreewasnobetterorworsethanChristiansworshippinganbook
(thebible)madefromantree.

Inconclusion,thetextshowsthatthenativepeopleinSurinamewereprejudicedagainst
unfairlyandthattheyhadtotrytoworktheirwayupthesocialladdertoeventhinkabout
associatingthemselveswiththeirwhiteinvaders.Somepeoplestoodoutinabigway,likethe


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MaxiLinderandElizabethSamson,whobecamerich.Othersadaptedtothelifestyle,andstarted
idolizingtheKankant,whichcreatedanevenbiggerriftbetweenthenativesandtheInvaders.