Why do people blame Africa's problems on events hundreds of years ago?

Question

Why are the west to blame for their problems when other countries oppressed by European empires - Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland, India etc. have all become prosperous?

Answer 1

Everything is connected.

Answer 2

Africa still has a lot of political problems. When there is no political stability in a country there can't be prosperity. I never heard anybody blame Africa's problems for what happened a hundred years ago although it is agreed that that is where their problems started. Plus India, Ireland and Singapore were colonies and were treated much better than Africa. I can't believe all the racists on here.

Answer 3

First of all, it wasn't just "hundreds of years ago". From what I know, some European countries kept their colonies, or at least their influence, upon African lands well into the 20th century. On top of that, many Europeans have remained in Africa, keeping their positions of power, keeping the natives down. Think of Kenya (somewhat), Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, and especially South Africa.

Heck, you may as well have asked why the Native American tribes in our own country (USA) aren't doing so well.

Also, many African societies value communal well-being over individual achievement and enterprise. They believe in watching out for each other, and not letting any one person rise above all the others. In a free society, this can be great, for it keeps everyone relatively equal, with their needs met, so no one hoards all the wealth. In an oppressed society, this can be murder, for it's tougher for one person to rise above the oppression experienced by the group.

On the other hand, Europeans and Asians care less about communal well-being and prize higher entrepreneurship and rising as high as you can. They are more willing to rise high at the expense of others.

Answer 4

Africa's problems are being cause by the African people's actions right now today. It has nothing to do with their civilization by colonizing forces of long ago. Aids and over-population are the biggest problems in Africa. And they are both caused by a utter inability to keep their pants up. The inner cities of America have the same problems. And those people like to blame the events of hundreds of years ago for their problems also. It must be a genetic problem.

Answer 5

I guess it's easier to look elsewhere to blame than to deal with the real issues. Anyone who donates to charities that benefit African countries ever wonder why the situation never seems to improve? Corrupt politicians (have you seen Mugabe's mansion?), too little sanitation and food, too much disease and too many babies being born into a short life of poverty, disease and hunger. Not to mention the AIDS problem in Africa where men think it's 'macho' not to use condoms. It's the corrupt Politicians that prevent the charitable aid reaching the populous that are preventing the nations development.

Answer 6

Jonathan G - "We never left them any infrastructure, any industry or even any way of governance."

Do you mean that you are to blame? You say "We" but I think you mean "countries in the past".

When was the last time you exploited Africa? I don't own any slaves. I haven't made any political decisions in another country. I haven't taken another countries infrastructure, education system, industry, etc... I have no plans to take these actions in the foreseeable future.

** Edit **
Maybe religious fanaticism has something to do with the development of Africa. Check this article on Reuters: "Sudanese protesters demand death for teddy teacher" (link below)

Answer 7

Well it appears that you hint towards America(west) as being the blame. First of all, it was the black Africans, themselves, that captured each other from tribes, and sold the captives to the whites. It was a common practice to raid other villages and take captives for slavery. When the whites arrived, it just gave the tribes someone to sell the captives to for rare items. Second, the problems that the blacks are having(AIDS, famine, droughts, diseases) is due to the fact that they are Muslim and other non-Christian religions. It is God's judgment on them, just as the tsunami's and other natural disasters in Indonesia and elsewhere are judgments against those non-Christian nations. Nations that also persecute the Christian followers there by murdering them.

Answer 8

It's partly because Africa caught the worst part of colonialism: Slavery.
Where Singapore and Hong Kong were colonial ports, Africa was the world's slave factory.
We never left them any infrastructure, any industry or even any way of governance.
And when we did govern the African peoples, we treated them as second class citizens, we showed them that governance is done through discrimination, fear tactics and corruption.
Robert Mugabe is a perfect example of the Post Apartheid dictator, a man who rules with the same ire and bigotry as IaN Smith did, but with hatred of whites, and an extra dose of tribal hate.

Answer 9

Because European countries went in and carved up Africa into countries that cut across traditional tribal boundaries. They exploited and robbed those countries for years and then tossed them back when they were finished with them. The US then stepped in to many countries in the 70s and 80s, supporting local warlords and factions in order to ensure that communism wouldn't take hold - Congo is a classic example. Have you ever wondered why so many African countries have perfectly straight borders? Answer: because a few European gents decided to divide the continent up that way a couple of hundred years ago.

Answer 10

Africans can't look after themselves, All this slavery crap gets on my nerves, it was 200 years ago, get over it!! people don't seem to realise that for years (before African slavery) people were being taken off the coast of Cornwall as slaves by the Eastern Countries, when was the last time we held huge marches asking for reparations.

Also, these Black slaves were already slaves and were not taken by the British but were actually sold to us by other African Salve leaders.

I think the Africans just can't look after themselves because of you look at what westerners did in South Africa, built cities, had electricity, hot and cold running water, look at Zimbabwe, when we were their it was rich enough to feed the whole of Africa but now look at it!!

Answer 11

African countries have vast amounts of natural resources....unfortunately they also have the most corrupt govts...take Zimbabwe as an example....under white rule it was prosperous....then the whites were thrown out, and it is now Bankrupt...except of course for Robert Mugabe who is a billionaire....there is your answer, corruption on an unbelievable scale, why should anyone work, when they get no reward. Plus there is a lack of education, as any monies which could go towards education and infrastructure is spent on boats, planes and palaces, oh and of course hangers on.