Composition

Salman Rushdie begins his “The New Empire within Britain” essay with a brief humorous statement comparing Britain with two countries with deeply racist pasts: 

Britain isn’t South Africa. I am reliably informed of this. Nor is it Nazi Germany. I’ve got that on the best authority as well. You may feel that these two statements are not exactly the most dramatic of revelations. But it’s remarkable how often they, or similar statements, are used to counter the arguments of anti-racist campaigners. (ll. 1-8)

This beginning captures the reader’s attention and makes them aware that the essay will revolve around racism. The title is also important since it highlights the fact that Rushdie talks about how white British society still relates to imperialism and how racist behavior is...