Of course, this title derives completely from Walter Rodney's classic book. If you haven't read it, you should, if you expect to properly understand the process to colonize Africa and her children. And, if you have read it you should read it again within a political education process and program to enhance your understanding of it. Its one of the most important books out today, but it was written decades ago. The subtle ways in which European colonialism dominates the mindset of the entire planet today is not often discussed in any comprehensive way today. So, this piece seeks to highlight some of the ways the institutional concept that Europe is the creator of all things civilized and worthwhile while Africa and the rest of the world are just dragging along on Europe's coattails is still very much alive, active, and effective today.
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I remember back when BET first started in the early 1980s (it originally debuted in 1979). Like most institutions focused on African life and culture in capitalist societies today, those institutions arose because the dominant capitalist institutions were concerned only about European Judeo-Christian history, culture, and society. For example, despite the undeniable fact that Africa is the mother of practically all forms of musical expression operational within the U.S. today - from country to blues to salsa to gospel, etc., it took a megastar like Michael Jackson to break the racial exclusivity present on MTV. So, I understand why African folks, and others interested in African culture, would flock to BET. The early focus on African musical expression and especially, the commitment of the network back then to air discussions on topics of African political struggle, were far from what we needed, but at least, it was something.
Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) was always fond of saying "people in capitalist societies don't know how to think. They only know how to react to stimuli." His analysis is the only way to effectively explain how so many people within the U.S. and Europe have been led to embrace this phony disdain for people living in those countries who were not born there. Its especially disappointing to see African people - who's radar for racism should represent the most heightened in these societies - signing on to these bogus concept with slim to no critical and historical analysis.
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