You just viewed a scene from the film "Hotel Rwanda" starring Don Cheadle. This film is an account of the genocide that took places in this country in 1994. For hundreds of years, the two major tribes of Rwanda were the Hutu and the Tutsi. They lived together with no animosity between them. When Belgium colonized Rwanda, they gave preferential treatment to the Tutsi because they (the Belgium's), thought the Tutsi's to be "superior" due to the fact that they were taller, their skin was lighter and their noses where pointier. This caused a divide between individuals of Hutu and Tutsi descent even after the era of colonization came to an end. As new generations were born, they no longer blamed the Belgium's, they blamed the Tutsi's themselves because the new generation of Tutsi's (growing up in this divided culture) began to see themselves as different from the Hutu.
In this particular scene, a hotel manger (who is a Hutu) by the name of Paul is buying supplies from a distributor and fellow Hutu. Paul is hiding Tutsi friends and neighbors in his hotel and the news is spreading that Paul is a Tutsi (Hutu's also refer to them as cockroaches) sympathizer.
What does your text say about Dominance and Subordination between Groups?
How did the discrimination by the Belgium's change the cultural perceptions of these people?
Full Answer Section
3. Dehumanization: Referring to Tutsi as "cockroaches" dehumanizes them, justifying violence and subordinating them further. This reflects how dominant groups often resort to dehumanization to subjugate others.
4. Individual Resistance: Paul, a Hutu, defies the dominant narrative by protecting Tutsi. This highlights the possibility of individual agency and resistance against systemic oppression.
Impact of Belgian Discrimination:
The Belgian-imposed racial hierarchy had a profound and lasting impact:
1. Manufactured Conflict: The artificial division created distrust and resentment between Hutu and Tutsi, previously lacking animosity. This fueled the eventual genocide.
2. Legitimization of Violence: By portraying Tutsi as "superior," Belgians indirectly legitimized violence against them, contributing to the dehumanization process.
3. Intergenerational Trauma: The imposed hierarchy passed down through generations, fostering prejudice and fueling the conflict even long after Belgium left.
4. Difficulty in Reconciliation: The deep-seated animosity and trauma caused by the imposed hierarchy makes reconciliation and healing a complex and challenging process.
Additional N
Sample Answer
The scene from "Hotel Rwanda" highlights several aspects of dominance and subordination between groups:
1. Racial Hierarchies: The Belgian colonists established a racial hierarchy favoring the Tutsi based on physical characteristics, deeming them "superior." This created an artificial division between Hutu and Tutsi, previously existing peacefully.
2. Internalization of Oppression: The scene hints at how the imposed hierarchy led to internalized oppression. New generations of Hutu, not experiencing colonization directly, blamed the Tutsi for their privileged position, perpetuating the divide.