Slide 2:
It is believed that Africa is overpopulated, a country that has violent people, war, tribalism, recurrent famine, environmental degradation, a primitive un-educated, uncivilized, and largely pagan people.
Where do these perceptions come from? :
Travelers -Natural scientists, anthropologists and geographers
Tourists – Hunters like Theodore Roosevelt
National Geographic Magazine and other printed media
Missionaries sent to evangelize and colonize
Hollywood in films like the “God’s Must Be Crazy” Where do these perceptions come from?
The West perceives Africa as: :
Poor country – but is rich in natural resources
Mostly dense jungles (Tarzan movies) -it has only a percentage of dense jungles. Many desert, mountains and grasslands.
Crawling with lions , elephants, and tigers and bears- No tigers or bears exist in modern Africa. Some areas do have elephants and lions.
Constant wars – A few countries do have a lot of unrest at times but much of Africa has stability and peace. The West perceives Africa as:
Western movies that portray negative perceptions of Africa include: :
Black Hawk Down
The Interpreter
Tears of the Sun
Blood Diamonds
The Gods Must Be crazy Western movies that portray negative perceptions of Africa include:
Other Myths and False Perceptions :
Africa is a country
Most Africans are dark black in skin color
Most Africans come from “tribes”
Most Africans are illiterate and un-educated
All of Africa is under developed and backward in it’s development
Most of Africa has no access to medicine or doctors Other Myths and False Perceptions