The Sin Of Being African 2

If you haven't read the part one of this article, follow the link below

https://read.cash/@Talon/the-sin-of-being-african-1-64124e43

An indepth assessment of the media coverage of the war in Ukraine has revealed why this might be, as rightly asserted by Maher Mezahi. During the colonial era, racism was both the cause and consequences of itself and you would think after all this years, we would have become better enough to go past it; apparently not. What we have today is not the elimination of racism but evolution of it. Today, we see racism institutionalised and this war has shown that the limit of this institutionalisation is far beyond what we thought before. Even in international organisations, this institutionalised racism plays out in the way Africa countries and their contingents are neglected on matters that have to do with world administration and even internal African affairs.

Maher Mezahi points this out as follows 'A startling string of insensitive, if not implicitly racist, takes were broadcast by various outlets, which are mostly based in major European or North American cities. One anchor was astounded to see that the refugees from Ukraine were "prosperous, middle-class people, not obviously refugees trying to get away from areas in the Middle East or North Africa". Another absurd claim was broadcast on French television, when a pundit argued the Ukrainians were similar to the French because "they drive the same cars as us.

A quick internet search confirmed that Ukraine and Algeria post very similar economic and human development indicators. Both countries have populations of a little more than 40 million people; Ukraine is 55th in the world in nominal gross domestic product, Algeria sits at 58th; Ukraine has the 22nd strongest military and Algeria has the 31st.Why then did someone say that Ukrainians were so much more "prosperous" or "middle class" than North Africans? Why is it impossible for some to imagine that Africans could drive a nice car? In Algeria, we drive the same cars as people do in France.'

To think these incidence happened on television that anyone anywhere in the world could have been watching tells you how grim the situation is. TV broadcasters are usually taught the act of careful and masterful usage of words not to offend people's sensitivities and damage the image of the station, we all know this. Putting that into the equation and seeing that these broadcasters deem those things they said appropriate just paints a perfect picture of what the nations see and think of Africa countries.

The economic indicators puts Ukraine and Algeria on the same pedestal, why on earth would anyone consider Ukrainians to be better mannered or more prosperous people than 'people from North Africa'? The audacity to say that on live TV is a testament to a European view where everything African isn't and can never be at par with those in Europe. It's a known fact that a lot of the high-end, high-quality products produced in Europe aren't produced for Europeans actually, but rather Africa, Middle east and Asian countries. These areas are known for the excessive and unchecked lavish spending of it's elite and wealthy, something that's mostly lacking in Europe. So, for a broadcaster to go on air and claim that Ukrainians are more like French because they drove similar cars is a huge insult to Africans because quite frankly, there are Africans who drive better cars ( and have them in good numbers) than the average European could ever afford.

This racist mentality which seemingly is a known thing amongst ordinary Europeans who eventually become the politicians and diplomats is the chief reason violence and suffering in Africa is ignored, as if to say, they are barbarians and that's all they known, to kill and to be killed, meanwhile Africa's money in international organisations like the World Bank are 'legally laundered' to fund Europe's development and apparently it wars as we have seen it been done in Ukraine.

Conclusion

My anger and quarrel is not with Ukraine, but with the glaring institutionalised racism in international politics. Like Maher Mezahi said 'Humans are humans, and war is war whether it be in Kyiv, London, Bogota or Buea. Let us all be as equal as each other.'

Thanks for reading...