Why do Europeans and non Africans do these?

Question

Why is it that europeans and non-africans Like to generalise about Africans as a whole? Why is it that you think that as far as there is a a problem in South Africa then also will the same propblem be in another african country?

India as a country has the highest population of Aids sufferers but still you people in the West continues to portray that the whole entire sub-saharan african( 49 countries) has the highest numbers of Aid sufferers? why is this so? Age old Racism or you prefer to listen to the lazy media that can't seem to do their research properly?

Answer 1

as a Nigerian i have asked myself this question a million times. the reason is one racism and hatred for black race. the slavery might have ended but the war is in a new frontier. they all ways show Africa and Africans in a bad image . Africa has the highest aids rate, corrupt criminals who are leaders, highest rap rates in the world and the list goes on and on. but when you look at those data you will see that those data are based on estimation not the actual data.

second the west like see themselves as superior and godly like people without problems . they never talk about their own problems . the UN released a report that the aids rate is increasing in the US and other western nations but that report was not shown in the media nor printed. the always stated that there are corrupt leaders in the African states but look at the united states and other western states where leaders are been sent to jail for ten or thirty years. they will never talk about this in the media.

third the media are controlled by white people who only wants to spree their message of hatred and racism.

all you have to do is not believe everything they say or show in the news media

Answer 2

I don't think that any slight is intended. It probably has a lot to do with our perceptions of what twangs the heart strings.
Pictures of African babies with Aids or whose mothers have Aids are much more likely to catch the attention of adults in the West as they have a high cute factor for us.
Hence to get the message across they are used in photo's more often.
On the lack of information from governments side....,Both continents should hang their heads in shame. But the views of the South African government have caught everyone's attention as they are voiced by highly educated people, and they are absolute twaddle!
Hence if the government of what is rightly or wrongly considered by many, to have the most modernised and commercial country in Africa has no control over the Aids situation, people will draw the parallel and think it applies everywhere.
Racism it is not. People inundated with information in a fast moving world where they don't have time to absorb one tenth of what they see and hear, it is.

Answer 3

I don't think there is any accurate figues they are all guesses and projections. Talking to a Nigerian friend the other day he was a bit miffed about the same thing you are, the whole of the continent being grouped together. He seems to think the Western side of Africa is much less effected than the South and East,wether that is down to cultural differences I don't know. Think the whole of Africa being lumped together into one group is certainly a Western idea, ignorence is bliss so they say.

Answer 4

A very good question. I consider myself to be reasonable well informed, but I was shocked to hear of the number of AIDS cases in India on the news. Our perception (prejudice?) of India is a very upright country - civil service, arranged marriages, very middle class. Looks like we were wrong and they are all banging away like good 'uns. Is it the media of the India government who have suppressed this one?

Even when you give blood (in the UK) you are asked to give details of visits to Africa and South America, but India is not mentioned.

Answer 5

Because all we see on TV is African kids with flies in their eyes toting AK47s and asking a new well/hospital/whatever, and it seems we send the funds over so your governments can siphon the money for more guns, tanks, bee-skin coats, palaces, etc...