Which excerpt is historical evidence that supports Achebe's claim about why Heart of Darkness is popular despite
its racist elements?
"Travelers with closed minds can tell us little except about themselves. But even those not blinkered, like Conrad,
with xenophobia, can be astonishingly blind."
"A few weeks later I received two very touching letters from high school children in Yonkers, New York, who—
bless their teacher-had just read Things Fall Apart."
"For did not that erudite British historian and Regius Professor at Oxford, Hugh Trevor Roper, also pronounce that
African history did not exist?"
"We were wanderers on a prehistoric earth, on an earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet. We could
have fancied ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance."



Answer :

Final answer:

Chinua Achebe critiques Heart of Darkness for dehumanizing Africans and reinforcing racist stereotypes, emphasizing the cultural and racial implications of the text.


Explanation:

Chinua Achebe, in his essay 'An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness,' criticizes the novella for dehumanizing Africans and perpetuating racist stereotypes, despite its aesthetic qualities. Achebe argues that the portrayal of Africa as 'the other world' mocks civilization and showcases triumphs of bestiality, reinforcing Eurocentric views.

Examining Achebe's stance on Heart of Darkness, it becomes evident that his critique focuses on the cultural and racial implications of the text, emphasizing the importance of not compromising African humanity for the sake of exploring European complexities.

Caryl Phillips's commentary further supports Achebe's perspective, highlighting how the narrative's emphasis on European characters at the expense of African depiction perpetuates racist notions about Africa and its people, making it difficult for African readers to accept.


Learn more about Heart of Darkness and Achebe's Critique here:

https://brainly.com/question/50745100