Colonialism

Friday July 5th

We had an amazing discussion this evening surrounding articles that argued that “Colonialism is the reason for corrupt governments in Africa.” The discussion was led by one of my scholars who is an African – American studies, English double major. The articles gave a brief background of the history of Colonialism before going into examples supporting the argument.

I was blown away by some the history that I was completely ignorant of. Things that I thought were inherent to the continent but really were a ripple effect of actions and structures put into place by colonialism.

We talked a lot about images. How people everywhere sees Africa as this vast place lumped into a general concept. Africa as one big country and space, not a continent. Africa the 3^rd world. Africa, dangerous, rural and savage. Where everyone lives in huts, banging drums with exotic animals roaming around in their backyard. Where everyone is starving and malnourished and a victim and needs aid and outsiders to help and teach them how to live. An undeveloped place filled with violent savagery, corruption and AIDS. Anyone reading this that denies that one of these stereotypes or more does not come to mind when they think or hear the word ‘Africa’ is kidding themselves. This is how the image of Africa is perpetuated in the media throughout the world. Africa is treated like a pathetic, helpless victim.

Africa is poor and under developed - by whose standards? Western. From a Western perspective we have decided what is developed and what is not. Whether it be flushing toilets, paved roads or groceries stores on every corner. Those standards of development were imposed by Western countries views. Who knows what Africa would have evolved into if other countries had just left it alone? The sad thing is that we will never know.

There are many areas of Africa that has remnants of their original culture peeking through the veil of BS western decadent devices and advancements such as the TV. An invention to represent a certain status, wealth and modern advancement. Community members walking around buried in their cell phones because the infectious disease of technology is spreading into every crack and corner of the world. It is sad.

People also forget that African countries gained their independence very recently. Come into a country and try to mold it to your ways and when it’s not working out abandon ship and leave the original inhabitants with the mess you’ve made and wonder why Africa is the “state” that it is in?

You say, “I am going to Africa?” Only to get responses like, “Why?” “Are you doing missionary work?” “Are you going with an NGO?” “Adopting a child?” “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Being here one of the biggest questions I’ve been getting from people in the community are, “Are you here to help us? Are you bringing money? Are you here to teach us?”

Of course they assume this. Because that is what their history reads and what their present of how they are being treated continues to reaffirm. That they are inferior in every way and need someone to come in from somewhere else to teach them how to live, a better way to be and to help them. A concept that has stemmed from the moment an outsider stepped foot on their continent and claimed it as their own.

It is going to take a lot of work to convince community members that may have never been asked what they think or how they feel or if they have any ideas worth sharing to shift their mind set from a poor victim who has nothing to offer to an empowered person of value with an abundance of knowledge.

My scholars keep talking about how worried they are that they aren’t going to create something sustainable with the community to leave behind. But I keep reminding them that every little thing that you do or don’t do matters. And just by us being here our presence has transformed and affected people. And if what we create isn’t sustainable who’s to say that won’t spark another idea, and another, and another until one finally sticks and works. That ripple was started by us. And that is the miracle. If we had to choose between leaving a sustainable product rather than a mind shift for the people in these communities from disempowered to empowered, I’d choose mind shift. That would be all that I can hope for. That would be a gift.