Zadie Smith Swing Time Sparknotes

Zadie Smith was born to an English father , Harvey Smith, and to a Jamaican mother, Yvonne Bailey, who emigrated from Jamaica , Where she grew up ,to England in 1969. As a daughter to parents from two different cultures, Smith has the effect of that difference which reflect on her writing starting from White teeth to Swing Time. Smith literary works seem to have African American Criticism. This was so clear in her Swing Time. From the starting point of her dedication to the book at the first page to her mother who is Jamaican not American. This dedication gives us , as readers, a hint to how her mother culture and background affected her. Turning to the next page and her chosen quote from a Hausa Proverb. Hausa is defined as the afro-Asiatic language spoken by Hausa people in northern Nigeria which is a part of Africa. Her choice of a proverb from Africa reflects the strong effect of African culture to her. One of the most dominant topics on African American writers is dancing. Smith quote from Hausa language and about dancing at the same time is a great choice. Besides, it give the reader a good hint about the main theme of
Do not forget that oppression is the most important topic for African American writers. Describing the apartment referring to the Buddha pictures tell the reader about Asiatic heritage. Buddha is the founder of Buddhism teachings which refer to enlightenment. This points to Smith appreciation to the thought of Asiatic heritage. The picture of an Indian boy kneeling beside an elephant reminds me with the spiritual part Elizabeth Gilbert wrote about in her Eat Pray Love which was in India too. Those two pictures of Buddha and the Indian boy reflects a Psychic side of Smith and her main character