Do you think the way America depicts Africa is wrong?

Question

The way America portrays Africa is ridiculous… most parts Africa are quite adequate (and adequate being an understatement in some parts)… I'm so tired of seeing "National Geographic Africa" it's distorted… not everyone in Africa lives outside in huts, fighting lions and struggling to survive. All the loin cloth wearing, black magic using, so dark almost purple people stuff… is really getting on my nerves. And they act like that's a mediocre way of life and that's all Africa has to offer… there's places in Africa that are more luxurious than Hollywood. The whole continent isn't on Feed the Children… I’ve never seen a high class, tropical, civil African country on TV… My boyfriend is African and he never lived in the street, he doesn’t have AIDS, he’s was not a skinny starving child who need Americans to give him 80 cents a day. I’m not trying to say we should stop supporting those who do need help. I’m just asking if anybody thinks the image of Africans is distorted due to the excessive use Africa’s poverty. Some companies think its good TV, anything for some ratings. Now that’s the stereotype of Africa. I think Africa’s beautiful culture and people are being overridden by the way America depicts the poverty that some of its countries have. Now do people label the whole continent as being poor and somewhat primitive?

Here are some photos of Africa you won’t see on TV.
http://www.ece.uic.edu/~nazenui/cameroon.html

http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/pub/hirsh/africa-photos/Scenic/Africa%20Photos%20219.jpg

http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/pub/hirsh/africa-photos/Scenic/Africa%20Photos%20020.jpg

http://www.safariskenya.com/images/culture.jpg

http://huizen.daxis.nl/~henkt/plaatjes/music-african-02.jpg

BMD is a prime example, he said as soon as he thinks of Africa the image of poverty comes to mind… that’s all I was trying to get people to see.

Dave b: news media aren’t the only ones who do that. I’ve seen plenty of quality television and documentaries that do the exact same thing as the news. Like I said “Anything for ratings” and I do web searching. Where do you think I got the photos from?

Answer 1

Well, you are somewhat right. When I think of Africa, I do think of the poor tribes and all that. But it is the image that was put into my head by the media. I know that Africa has cities that are running like any other city in the world. But since I have never been there, the image that was put into my head is what first comes to mind.

Answer 2

Sorry to say but that doesn't happen in the future it happens today. Working outside in temperatures over 100 degrees is very dangerous and people have passed out before and will in the future. If a person doesn't take in enough fluid and it is over 80 degrees with sun shine added on people can pass out. Even two centuries ago when the Earth was cooler people especially Europeans have had a hard time with the heat in Africa.

Answer 3

thank you for asking this question

i have provided a link to help you prove your point about Africa
it shows pictures of residential areas in Africa as well as resorts cities and other places

anyone who has not been to Africa should look at these pictures and do more research before they fall for what they see on TV

That, unfortunately,is only a tiny part of what Africa is

whatever is shown on t.v is meant to attract viewers
it seems most people in the so called developed countries would rather watch mud huts, genocide, and famine as opposed to the more positive aspects of the continent.

some of those so called mud huts have gone high tech
with solar panels running water and upper floors
so what if the roof is thatched?!!!!!!
it keeps the interior cool !
after all Africa is warm for most of the year.

the positive part of all the negative media is that Africa is not looked at as a threat so its left alone to mature beautifully!
very soon it might just take over................!

anyway alot of sad things happen in Africa but life goes on and so does development

surprise yourself
take your time and look through all the pages!
and please don't stop till you have gone through all 10 pages!

Answer 4

No, I don't think Africa is portrayed incorrectly, just not completely. It is the same as with any other country though. When you watch National Geographic what do you expect them to show you, when most of their shows are about nature? Cities? What do you expect to see when you watch shows about the hungry and starving? The point of the show is to get those poor people help. Those shows have a specific point and that is to inform you about nature or the starving people. So what you are really saying is that you are angry because no one produces tv shows about other aspects of Africa. How many tv shows do you see about the lifestyles and cities in say Norway, Argentina or Ireland? Very few if any. My point being, the beautiful natural settings, wildlife and starving people from Africa are what draw tv crews their. That is what is going to get them ratings. I am sure that their are plenty of show aired in Africa about the things you are interested in, it's just that no one in the Us is interested in say, a show about the finest restaurants in Africa, so they are not aired here. You act like camera crews go there with the intentions of making Africa look like some *** backwards third world country, when they are only their because they know their is an interesting subject that will get them ratings. Honestly, what would America have to gain by portraying Africa in a bad light. We already know we are one of the top superpowers in the world when it comes to technology, military and economic power. There is no point in making Africa look worse than what it is. If you and any of the other conspiracy people that answered your question are so upset over it, do something other than complain. Have fund raisers and get the money together to go and film a show yourself. I am not trying to be offensive, I just don't understand why this bothers you so.

Answer 5

i think its kind of a rock and a hard place thing. if all they showed were the good parts of africa people would be wondering why theyre "covering up" the genocide and aids and hunger part of it. i agree that most of us have a warped idea of africa and that we need to be more educated, but right now, showing people in africa shopping in malls and stuff doesnt sell in movies and i think it would make people less willing to donate to the causes to improve the conditions in the worse parts because people will get the idea that if some of the countries are wealthy that the others could be too, but are just lazy and wont want to contribute

Answer 6

Well, making up stories and lies DOES MAKE A BIG money for some people, people like Hollywood. Americans are the most deceived people, they are controlled by the media, the theaters, and their corporates. They believe what they see on TV whether it is true or not. Wasn't Bush that SIMPLY CONVINCED them that SADDAM had nukes?,, COME ON. Don't blame them, they are all misled by lairs.

FACT: America has more jungle than Africa.
FACT: Africa is more diverse than America.
FACT: Africa gets the least aid from America, but Americans say they give Africa the most.
FACT:, AIDS is not devastating ALL AFRICA, it is epidemic in Sub-Saharan countries.
FACT: Africa's leaders are U.S. puppets, and favor harsh U.S policies and trades in the continent.
FACT: AMERICANS ARE MISLED ABOUT ALMOST EVERYTHING ON EARTH.

Answer 7

America? Perhaps you mean the so called "news media". Maybe if you watched some quality television documentaries you would see Africa depicted in a more positive light, instead of being pummeled by the doom and gloom mainstream media shoves down everyones throats.
Better yet, do some web searching and try not to sound like such a victim.

Answer 8

I agree that the US makes Africa look like a 'savage ridden country'. To me it's a more modern form of discrimination and it should be questioned. The fact that they do not depict the modern growth of Africa in itself shows suspicion over it's motive to not show things as they are. You also must understand that the USA has a capitalist perspective and that "USA is the best in everything" so to speak. Unfortunately as long as this is viewed this way nothing else is better than the US and everything else wild lands and tribes...

Answer 9

Ofcourse.

Answer 10

No. All those bad things about Africa are true.