'Just World News' with Helena Cobban: "Uzodinma Iweala, a young novelist from Washington DC and Nigeria, has a great opinion piece in today's WaPo that should be must-reading for all young whitefolk who get the urge to 'save' Africa.
He writes:
News reports constantly focus on the continent's corrupt leaders, warlords, 'tribal' conflicts, child laborers, and women disfigured by abuse and genital mutilation. These descriptions run under headlines like 'Can Bono Save Africa?' or 'Will Brangelina Save Africa?' The relationship between the West and Africa is no longer based on openly racist beliefs, but such articles are reminiscent of reports from the heyday of European colonialism, when missionaries were sent to Africa to introduce us to education, Jesus Christ and 'civilization.'"
He writes:
News reports constantly focus on the continent's corrupt leaders, warlords, 'tribal' conflicts, child laborers, and women disfigured by abuse and genital mutilation. These descriptions run under headlines like 'Can Bono Save Africa?' or 'Will Brangelina Save Africa?' The relationship between the West and Africa is no longer based on openly racist beliefs, but such articles are reminiscent of reports from the heyday of European colonialism, when missionaries were sent to Africa to introduce us to education, Jesus Christ and 'civilization.'"
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