Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa”

Discuss the arguments and conclusions of Achebe’s article. Do you agree with them? Achebe is known to teach Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness.” He believes it should be taught by addressing racism and colonialism. Please comment.

In An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Achebe attacks Joseph Conrad’s text as racist. According to Achebe, this novel should be taught in schools, colleges, and universities addressing racism and colonialism. One has to use Postcolonial Criticism to interpret the novel.
He argues that Conrad intends not to give human attributes on Africans—he even deprives them of language. Africa, as the representation of the Blacks, is rendered as the direct opposite of Europe. Since it is the opposite of Europe, it is therefore not civilized. Congo is merely “a foil to Europe.” In the essay, Achebe presents instances in the novel where Conrad (1) in terms of description, the Blacks are “non-humans” and (2) in terms of language, the Blacks seem to not have any (if there is, then it is alien-like). Achebe, furthermore, goes beyond the novel. He attacks Conrad’s personal experiences—that he has a problem with Blacks and that he personally despises them.
I have read the novel at least three times. What Achebe has discussed in the essay is true. Conrad’s seemingly biased and unfair description and treatment on the events, descriptions, and the characters are noticeable. All these are good elements for Postcolonial studies. The approach concerns with the colonizers and the colonized.
Although this may be a good approach for the novel (if meaning or interpretation is concerned), however, one has to note that Conrad has no intention to hurt nor to discriminate the Africans (or the Blacks). Conrad describes them the way he observes them and the way his people do. I don’t believe Conrad intentionally describes the Blacks that way to embarrass them. Conrad is one fine artist, if one must know. He just presents them that way because his work demands that kind of art for a creative and artistic effect. If one would just use Postcolonialism to the novel, does this mean that he would then dismiss the artistic element of the novel? I believe this is also unfair to Conrad.
On the one hand, it is good to study the novel using Postcolonial Approach to emphasize the element on colonization and the discrimination of the Blacks. On the other hand, it is better not to use just one approach to the novel for justice sakes. It is always better to combine some approaches to arrive at the meaning of the novel (for “two is better than one”). If one does this, he will have a broader understanding and a deeper insight on the darkness in each person’s heart. To Achebe: If bias is your point, then reflect on every side of the novel.