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Africa |
Africa's
backwardness is the West's gain.
Our
inferiority complex presents an exploitative stock. To the continent's loss,
from time immemorial till date, the mining process of such capital continues
unabated. Sadly, the West is beholding a new rising force with an equally
subtle and noisome quest to rush and grab the resources of the continent.
I
keep asking myself: What is wrong with being black? Truth is, the global media
continues to portray blacks as being inferior; and rather unfortunately, we
have lived up that description.
While
the issues that gave rise to our slavery are many, and we may today throw our
hands in despair at such barbaric acts carried out; we equally have a duty to
realise that it is this same inferiority complex, very much deep-seated in the
psyche of our people that in no less contributed to the expansive scale to
which we were subjected to those tortuous acts.
There
is no doubt that we are still feeling the effects of our gloomiest epoch.
However, we continue to encourage the pillaging of the resources of the
continent. Now, when would we have a rethink and realise we are created in the
image of God with similar rights and attributes, and that we can fend for
ourselves? A vast continent like ours with all the resources at our disposal
cannot maintain itself? Such levity of enormous proportions.
But
no, we have swallowed the paralysing lies of our detractors, and we will
continue to ingest such nocent garbage. After all, when a people have an
inferiority complex, manipulation is not far-fetched. Watch our leaders around
those across the shores, and at times, their mawkish behaviour is almost
sickening. What? What is wrong with our mind; what dark froth fills our
cerebrums?
We
camp at airports to receive so-called dignitaries. Yes, we dance and celebrate
because people of fairer complexions are touching our dusty lands. It is almost
shocking. Go to Heathrow or JFK and see who comes to meet you.
I
shall stick my head above the parapet and declare that at the very heart of
what has become a nexus between us and our backwardness as a people is our
inferiority complex. It has been our bane and continues to be so. As a
corollary, this same factor is what has given rise to our plexus of issues.
Unsurprisingly, the world continues to see us as a people laden with insoluble
problems.
However,
a resolute truth I subscribe to is that Africa has the solution for every one
of her manifold problems—it is the untapped resources of its people. What may
seem as dusky people without potential are the very people who can solve the
seemingly insuperable challenges that we face. But would we believe in our own
ability or continue to believe our portrayal as second-rate people? Would we
ever come to a point where we drop our unquenchable thirst for aid and start
harnessing and leveraging our own resources to solve our multitudinous issues?
Perhaps
the opinion expressed here may light a candle of hope in the readers from this
continent. Yes, a mere flicker of belief that says that we are equipped with
the same talents and potentials to be able to achieve the development we very
much desire.
And,
if some may decide to spurt out their susurrations that our backwardness is not
our choice, and that, it is an imposition, then my ample response to such
people is: What should we do? Use our voices in wanton oration and fruitless
effort in calling for recognition of our people and our place? Continue
mourning our loss and the heinous crimes perpetrated in plundering our
resources? Or, perhaps we should rise up from the ash-strewn alleys of our
certain stupor and defeat, dust ourselves off, and prime ourselves for a yet
more glorious flight—the very type that our detractors will pooh-pooh and label
as infeasible?
The
dawn of change has broken upon this continent. And if each African can defenestrate
thoughts of inferiority from their mind, and actively seek to disprove the
fallacious perceptions of those who stole from us—and today turn around and
label us with revolting obscenities—then we shall surely see accelerated
development right here on our shores.
But
if we continue to gulp down the subtle lies that the African is incapable of
solving his/her own issues; we would only swell in our inferiority complex, and
thereby swing open our doors to yet more plunder. In such vein, we will never be
seen and treated as equals. At best, it would be a diplomatic tag—titular in
every sense without corresponding action of practical value. And our
backwardness as a people will continue to deepen.
However,
I shall invoke my sense of calculated optimism and asseverate that once we fix
what lies at the very core of our backwardness—in this case, our inferiority
complex—our future may yet be brighter. But knowing the layers of conditioning
that has so far been successful in its inimical influences, and the rippling
effects of disrupting the status quo, I shall wait with bated breath and hope
for the best.
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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