To the United States the Third World often takes the form of a black woman who has been made pregnant in a moment of passion and who shows up one day in the reception room on the forty-ninth floor threatening to make a scene. The lawyers pay the woman off; sometimes uniformed guards accompany her to the elevators.

Summary

This quote by cultural critic Susan Sontag depicts a metaphorical and racialized representation of how the United States views the Third World. The Third World is personified as a black woman who has been impregnated by an American man, symbolizing the consequence of America's exploitative relationships with developing countries. The woman's sudden appearance in a place of power demonstrates the disruptive potential of these marginalized nations seeking retribution for their exploitation. The decision to pay her off and provide armed guards suggests a desire to maintain control and suppress any potential disruption to the status quo.

Topics