Gene Smith

theafricatheynevershowyou:

This image has been making its way around Tumblr, but I’m looking at it from a different perspective. The big bad Western imperialists came in to drain Africa of its resources, but who is giving them permission to do so? What group of men seem to have no regard for the welfare of their citizens or for future generations of their countries?

The majority of African “leadership” has not retained, let alone increased, the little it inherited from colonialism. These leaders have destroyed it. ** For decades, African leaders have complained and pointed fingers at the external factors** like the effects of colonialism, unfair international economic practices, greedy multi-national corporations, etc. They blame them for the poor economic performance of the majority of the continent.

Yes, these issues have an effect in each African country, but when will these “leaders” start to analyze the factors that are in their control? When will they focus on the factors that they can control like their own economic mismanagement (foreign aid), corrupted systems, civil wars, lack of women and children’s rights, political tyranny and the absense of the freedom of their press?

This could so be an advertisement for African dictatorship.

African Leadership: Don’t worry Africa, we’ll go away when we finish!!