Reality Check
View attachment 719613
For years Caroline had lived in a society where it was a known fact that Europeans were infinitely superior to Africans.
When her husband was made governor of an island colony she was thrilled. She would be the centre of society! The Queen Bee!
That was exactly how it was. For almost a year she was the social arbiter for the small community of white officials and merchants. The local population was almost invisible to her, except as obsequious servants.
Then came the revolution! The world was turned upside down! The rebels invaded her mansion. Her clothes, her possessions, all were looted. The servants strutted around in her husband’s gaudy uniforms. He didn’t care. His severed head watched from a spike above the front door.
For the women there was a worse fate, much worse! Stripped naked they were paraded around the town, mocked and reviled. Then they were displayed in the slave market, together with all the other savage slaves from the mainland. For hours she stood there while the new rulers prodded, probed and pinched her creamy white flesh.
Then came the final humiliation. No auction for the white women, they were not considered worthy. They were, instead, awarded to the people, in exchange for a single goat. Lady Caroline, Queen Bee and leader of fashion, had started a new fashion. Naked, she followed her new owner, a small shopkeeper.
Somehow, she no longer felt so superior.
I like this one ... such a reversal in fortune and quite a comedown ... well done as always, but this one especially caught my fancy.