The World View Of Africa (movies, schools, universities)

[affi]

Why do the world think that Africa is where all the animals run around. They feel that we do not have any school. They feel that we do not do normal things like Eat and ride cars.

After my 5 years of living in the states people have asked me stupid questions about africa. Here is the list of it...

1. Do Yall have schools in Africa?
2 Does it rain in africa?
3 Do yall watch movies in Africa?
4. Is there any radios in africa? How about Cars? Eletricity?
5. Do yall wear clothes in africa?
6. Are U from Africa? Why are you not dark skin?

This makes me laugh so hard but yet gets me so sad.

AFRICA Is just like any other country. Yes, We have Famine, Aids and Bad leadership but we are just like America. We have the good, the bad and the ugly. People think the exact opposite of The beautiful Continent That is called africa. We wear clothes, play sports, watch TV, Go shopping and LIVE!!

THERE IS MORE TO AFRICA THEN YOU SEE ON TV!!

I hope one day CNN does a documenatry on the REAL AFRICA!!

[vanderbyl]

Hi Affi
Yes you're right, I spent some time in Greensboro NC in 1982 and I was asked where I was from, to which I replied, South Africa. the next question was, "how did you get out?" implying that there is no form of transport etc. what a laugh.

[BigSwede]

Originally Posted by affi

AFRICA Is just like any other country.

Africa is not one country.
But seriously,I would sometime like to go to Africa to get rid of some of my own prejudice.
I embarrass myself when I am surprised to see nice modern cities on tv,because we mostly get to see the bad sides on the tv news.

[internat]

Why do the world think that Africa is where all the animals run around. They feel that we do not have any school. They feel that we do not do normal things like Eat and ride cars.

I think it's best to try know people on an individual level. I'm certainly not politically correct. Certain population groups do cause more trouble and are less progressive. I'm also against the inferiority complex of historical revisionists (like a "black power" South African I knew) who used to say the ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids were black (as in Negroid) Africans. Nevertheless, one should seek the root of the problem. Africa has without a doubt been exploited. Slaves have been taken from both the west (the British - Atlantic trade) and east (by Arabs) to do dirty work. It's difficult to say how Africa would have developed if it had been allowed to prosper on its own. It should be mentioned that no place have been without external influence. Now Europe is like a fortress. I don't know if Fair Trade is the solution. Anyway, everything is relative. Who is to say what is higher civilisation. It becomes a rather philosophical discussion.

It's not just in USA people have a negative view of Africa. Africa is not the only continent or region on the receiving end of the kind of ignorance you describe so well. Because of pity or agendas a lot of countries in the world are portrayed as backward savages without housing.

It was only a few decades ago many African countries became free from oppressive colonialists. I've heard English people seriously ask African students from South Africa (of all places as it's more 2nd world) if they have modern buildings. It really depends on the social background and educational level. I don't want to sound like a snob but in my experience those who come out with outrageous comments are more often than not exactly the crème de la crème of their society. The people with a little higher educatation would know such things. Even if you don't have formal education you can take the time to read online or go to the library and read a book about Africa.

Americans are generally speaking terrible in geography. A lot of propaganda is fed to Americans through Fox (Faux) News and similar "news" channels. Ron Paul, an American presidential candidate, did his best to educate Americans and warn them of the dangers of an ignorant foreign policy. It's essentially Straussian politics to keep the masses ignorant. Those who care to read more about the history of other countries and regions of the world are unfortunately few and far between. Look at the top in the best American universities. A lot of these people are newly arrived immigrants.

Africa is fascinating because it has so much natural resources yet there are populations on the continent that suffer a tremendous amount. There has been (and still are) many corrupt leaders that rule African countries as dictators.

I know it's frustrating and takes a lot of energy to inform people who are ignorant. You should remain positive. Think that there are also many who would be pleased to learn more.

Originally Posted by affi

6. Are U from Africa? Why are you not dark skin?

Regarding anthropology, you know Europeoid Arab and Berber North Africa is separate from sub-Saharan Africa. I make the assumption you are from a North African country.

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by affi

Is there any radios in africa? How about Cars? Eletricity?

lol I used to play alot of HALO 3 last year and they had a map of people playing around the world. America had tens of thousands of people playing, Europe, and Asia as well, but in Africa there was like only one dot representing the whole continent (im sure the dot represented more than one person). So my question to you is, Do they play HALO in Africa

[DDevil]

Not only Africa, there are a lot of other countries that people have this backward perception of.
I have heard about the same kind of ignorance towards most of the Asian countries.

[lumumba]

Eh, Africa suffers from not being shown. As for me I would ask you the same stupid questions if I met you. On the whole, it's known as a continent of some developed and lots of backward countries.

[affi]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

lol I used to play alot of HALO 3 last year and they had a map of people playing around the world. America had tens of thousands of people playing, Europe, and Asia as well, but in Africa there was like only one dot representing the whole continent (im sure the dot represented more than one person). So my question to you is, Do they play HALO in Africa

There are People in Africa that own XBOX, Playstation, etc.
People do play Halo in Africa.

People should not listen to what they see on TV. Africa is more than what appears on Telivision. Some Places in Africa are wayy better than any place in a develop country.

@ internat

Everyone expect africans to be dark skinned. When I say that Im from Africa, They do not belive me at all becasue I am light skinned.

[internat]

Not everyone. There are those of us who know such things. I understand which is why I wondered if you are from North Africa. May I ask from which African country you come from?

Originally Posted by affi

@ internat

Everyone expect africans to be dark skinned. When I say that Im from Africa, They do not belive me at all becasue I am light skinned.

[affi]

I am from Liberia. located in West Africa!!