Monday, July 17, 2017

Article: "Yes, Macron’s 'civilizational' Africa statement is problematic but it’s also very French"

https://qz.com/1026263/emmanuel-macrons-africa-civilizational-statement-was-racist/?mc_cid=66169f4a6a&mc_eid=f52b1cd1b3

When studying at Sciences Po in Paris, I took a class, with a French professor among mostly French students, about France's colonial history in Africa. It always made me uncomfortable that the French were slightly self-congratulatory about their "civilizing mission" given everything they managed to screw up there. Having lived in France as well as living/traveling through different parts of Africa, I found this an interesting read. Africa is not a homogenous pit of savages. Yes, many countries on the continent have their share of problems, but doesn't every country have their own issues (Hello, Trump's America)? It's not France's place to determine what needs "saving." 

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