In order to interpret and understand the text, it becomes crucial to identify the cultural values, priorities, and motivations of the author, linking them to themes that are considered relevant to the readers of particular cultures. The interpretations of a cultural text are the most valid when it comes to the representatives of the culture to which the text belongs. Put simply, a white woman may not have a complete understanding of the struggles of Black women during the times of slavery even though they are representatives of the same gender. As Sojourner Truth mentioned in “Ain’t I a Woman,” despite the importance of the women’s rights movement to the liberation of a significant portion of society, the racism and tumult within the movement itself do not allow for the rights to be reached. In “Let Them Call it Jazz, ” Jean Rhys raises concerns about such markers of difference as race, gender, and class, with her story only being successfully interpreted by those who can understand the oppressive experiences.
The “reading” of events may not be considered legitimate by others because during the times of their writing; others have managed to be successful despite also being poor or coming from racially diverse backgrounds. However, what others may fail to understand is that the specific interplay between markers of difference makes the experiences unique and can be effectively interpreted by individuals with the same markers.
The same issue applies to Aboriginal people’s experiences, which are heavily contested in contemporary culture. Claiming that their experiences of oppression are the same as those among other minorities undermines their validity and historical significance. While all experiences are valid, they cannot be broadly interpreted by everyone at the same time. Therefore, the interpretations of cultural texts or events are only valuable when the representatives of the specific culture and group characteristics.