Stereotypical Views of Africa Stereotyping is the categorizing of events, objects and people without regard to unique individual characteristics and qualities. It is also a standardized mental picture that is held by members of a group and provides a simplified opinion, predicted attitude, or uncritical judgment. Webster’s collegiate Dictionary: Miriam-Webster, Incorporated, Springfield, Ma 01102. Stereotyping of the continent and people of Africa is very evident in the general population of the United States of America. It has created a very negative picture of the continent.
In the article "That Was no Welcome" by Clark, we are able to see the defiance of two different countries, Europe and Africa, in their first encounter due to their lack of cultural knowledge. The Europeans attacked the Africans because they assumed that the strange rituals performed by them were a sign of threat. The Africans believed the Europeans were "brothers" so they performed rituals to welcome them, however because of the sudden attack Africans realized they were enemies, so they attacked them back. Since Europeans did not know the local knowledge of the Africans, they assumed that the
However some Africans acted to the scramble by saying ok to the European demands, succeeding. While other Africans used religion as a reaction to the Europeans trying to take over African land. Other older African tribes reacted to Europeans by using tradition and old ways while some Africans were just to prideful to become a part of the new European ways or society. Even though all of this is true about the different ways Africans acted and reacted to European imperialism: there were still some Africans who did what was expected hold a violent resistance against the Europeans. A no holds barrier type of action was employed by some African tribes.
The purpose of writing such a primary account would be so that it can better notify the Europeans who are going to visit Africa so that they can better adapt to the foreign culture, and enlighten the Europeans on how the other side of the world is living while boasting on how the European culture is far more advanced. Bosman begins the report in a shocking manner where he identifies the Negroes, or the Africans, as “crafty, villa[i]nous and fraudulent, and very seldom to be trusted.” Even though it is understandable of how in the eyes of a European who usually look down upon the Africans as uncivilized and crude human beings, Bosman continuously makes critical remarks on Africans on Gold Coast as the Dutchman touches upon and criticizes on many subjects and cultures of Africa. From the cruel system of slavery and social levels to food and daily eating habits of Africans, Bosman tries to reveal vast information about African life to inform the general public in
Documents one, four, and seven are examples of people being scared and doim=ng what the Europeans wanted. Documents five, six, seven, eight, and nine are examples of people taking action and fighting the Europeans. Documents two and three show respectful rejection. One document that would help further analyzation of the documents would be a personal record of the Niger River delta dealings, because it would show how easily the rulers signed. Many Africans were threatened by the European power and just gave into the Scramble without fighting back.
Joseph Conrad, in his novella Heart of Darkness, contributes to the western concept of Africa’s inferiority to Europe due to his perspective as a white European that he has innately acquired; his intentions, however, cannot be defined through the available evidence. In fact, this novella can be seen as Conrad’s take on the European views of Africans from an outsider perspective. When making judgements on the unknown, people are bound to stick to stereotypes and prejudgements--in this case, Conrad and his white European audience. Whether, in doing so, he is attempting to be nasty towards Africans or not is irrelevant to the fact that Conrad’s perspective is one-sided and racist. Just as Kurtz is a product of his one-sided European upbringing, as we see in the novella, so is Conrad.
Andy Bartlett 11-19-06 DBQ Imperialism in Africa In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries European imperialism caused its countries to divide up the rest of the world, each country claiming bits as its own. Due to its large amounts of resources, Africa was one of the main areas in which European nations established colonies. Imperialism in Africa had both positive and negative results for not only the Africans in the colonies, but the European colonizers as well. Some positive effects on Africans were that they were provided with security by their ruler and new technology was brought to them. Some negative effects from them were the Africans loss of freedom, slavery, the loss of their land and natural resources to the colonizer, and a decrease in African nationalism.
The main reason the British practiced imperialism in Africa was to bring forth Christianity and many European civilizations to African countries. Britain’s economy fed on trade, and they did not want the West Coast of Africa for its palm oil. They believed it was too unstable for good commerce without their control. Their main objective was to protect their high paying countries; India and the Caribbean. Since the slave trade in the 1830’s, Africa didn’t impress the British.
When in reality, they are both wrong. Everyone deserves to be equal in the American, it’s our right, and if you don’t like it then become a hermit so you will not have to deal with it. The Black Panthers want Africans to take over the white race, as if to make war with them. The Skinheads hate anyone who is not white; believe the saying “if you’re not white you’re not right”. I believe the old school Black Panthers had a bigger impact on U.S. society more than anything.
The interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano written by Olaudah Equiano himself who also known as Gustavus Vassa is an autobiography covers his entire life journey. The author once said in the book "I believe there are a few events in my life which have not happened to many". Indeed, the experience of the slavery Olaudah suffered in his early years and the world- trip has revealed to the readers the very true facts about the past as well as the cruel side of the society of the time. In the first chapter, the author started with his account of his native African culture including clothing, food, religion practice, etc. The author offered an impression of native’s natural and simple life just like any human kind’s ancestors would have had.