The interpreter officer is the historical prototype of today’s native informer
Evidence
With the aid of this prototype one can imagine some native compradors still doing their share for the white civilizing mission (mission civilisatrice) facilitating others’ subjugation to a superior set of symbols. For, again as Fanon further noted, “the more the black Antillean assimilates the French language, the whiter he gets—i.e. the closer he comes to becoming a true human being.” — Hamid Dabashi, Brown Skin, White Masks, 149
Categorization
- DEFINE: Establishes the native informer concept as descending from colonial interpreter-officers.