The legacy of Eurocentrism that endured in African countries like Sudan. The role of Atlantic slave trade in the development of European economy and the catastrophic impact it had on Africa. The slave trade is an example of extreme oppression and racism. Over time slavery became associated with the dark skin of Africans, which led to the colonists feeling superior. The Eurocentric belief had led the Europeans to exploit the African slaves to adapt to the western way.
Africa is typically thought of as being a continent full of violence and revolution. This concept may have originated from the poor treatment of Africans by the rest of the world through colonization, forced labor in Africa, and the enslaving of Africans in other regions of the world. The danger and violence that stemmed from many countries gaining independence and experiencing political upheaval has been thwarted by peacekeeping efforts from outside agencies, like the United Nations. Africa has had a violent past, but only because of the exploitation by the Europeans, and eventually Americans. Ultimately, their ethnocentrism led to violence and the stereotype of danger in Africa.
This revelation brings to the light the difference in societal standing and ultimate economic worth of the individuals. The African continent was not unaccustomed to the idea of warfare, trading, and the keeping of slaves. In fact, these aspects of African life typically intertwined; as Equiano tells, the “stout mahogany-coloured men” would bring them “fire-arms, gunpowder…they always carry slaves through our land”, typically prisoners of war or criminals (Equiano, 30). The author himself was raised
Nathan Robinson (n.d.), author of “A Quick Reminder of Why Colonialism Was Bad” explains that colonialism is “A strict hierarchy separates the colonized and the colonizer; you are treated as an inconvenient subhuman who can be abused at will. The colonists commit crimes with impunity against your people. Efforts at resistance are met with brutal reprisal, sometimes massacre”(para 1). Colonialism is the idea of going to countries that are rich in resources i.e. countries in Africa and forcing them to give their goods through various forms such as labor and slavery.
Due to the social and cultural changes brought on by the Europeans, the main character, Okonkwo, fails to accept the nature of the situation and commits suicide. In an attempt to satisfy their growing desire for political power and to reinstate the beliefs of their cultural dominance, Europeans exploited the native people and replaced their traditional structures, thus contributing to the growing societal chaos in Africa. The imperialistic nations’ want for political dominance over Africa led to them becoming a giant that could not be toppled. In Achebe’s novel, during Okonkwo’s seven year exile, many changes were brought to Umuofia, including the court messengers who worked for the European courts. These messengers were from Umuru which was “where the white men
Since, the African Nationalist said that independence given to African is false because true freedom comes with economic independence and the author calls this kind of practice as Neo-colonialism. The false independence Blaming Africa's woes on colonialism and neo-colonialism strikes a chord with many educated Africans, but emphasis on external forces has drawn attention away from internal factors crucial to an understanding of Africa's condition. With or without colonialization, African societies would still today be faced with fundamental economic dilemmas, argues Tunde
As the number of aboriginals decreased and came close to extinction. The British feared this therefore they promoted the idea of racial quality which ultimately failed, though it was the basis of racial equality in Europe and America. As different races rejected the ideas of civilization the British came to question the idea if these races could actually be civilized. Then came Tomas Carlyle who was a writer that appealed to slavery. He wrote, in the 19th century, about the necessity of inequality and that it was the proper way to rule society.
Europeans became helpless to these diseases, so by 1833, the British government banned the slavery. The end of slavery brought the Europeans interests in imperialism and conquering colonies. European countries were interested in Africa for many reasons. Africa was filled with such incredible natural resources such as; copper, ivory, and rubber, the europeans countries competed among themselves
This system globalized, and soon the entire world was dependent on its products and success. At this time, while slave-owners prejudiced their slaves, racism did not exist. Racism grew out of prejudice derived from slavery, and synthesized from a global economy dependent on cheap slave labour, when white people justified why Africans slaves were unequal to them. To justify enslavement of Africans and later to
The Western Europeans gain power over Africans, however the way they controlled their power, with inhumane, racist and selfish actions mean’t the colonies were bound to failure. In the conquest for colonies racism and ethnocentrism played a role in how the Europeans went about with their Imperialistic conquest, however it wasn’t the original