Daily Trust (Abuja)
25 October 2007
A few days ago, the Nobel Laureate, Dr James Watson, made a remark that is now generating worldwide uproar, especially among the blacks.
[ See Article ]
Your comment is riddled with factual errors and omissions.
As though that were not enough, your stubborn and no doubt unintelligent refusal to recognize the reality of innate african unintelligence is compounded by the fact that your comment is filled with simple, indeed simplistic - dare I say simple-minded? - spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Thank you for confirming the (obvious) truth of Mr. Alibi's courageous message.
Sincerely,
- Lawrence Buckingham
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mr. Buckingham,
Do you really think staceyt26's spelling errors is proof of their lack intelligence. You know very well this comment area is simply a place to quickly jot down a few thoughts and as people's time is limited it is easy to make typos. I think your comment was really a bit petty.
That said why is it so important to you to have proof of what you state is "inate African unintelligence"? If it were proven what woudl that mean to you? As I stated in my other post if it were in fact true (I doubt it) then this would mean morally those that are more intelligent would be responsible for lending a helping hand to those that are not.
What is your goal in asking people to believe as you do?
Mr. Buckingham, how many languages can you speak? I live in South Africa, and many black people can speak over 9 languages. Most can speak more than 3. For an intelligent person as you, it is odd that you fail to see that the person you are targetting is not writing in his/her first language. I would like to see your attempt of an answer in your 2nd or 3rd, or maybe ninth language. Proudly South African
While I do agree that the black population has its problems and, as someone who is very scientifically minded, I believe that the comments made by Dr James Watson actually have scientific ground and have sadly been demoted to some form of prejudice comment (see the post by ascraa1), I must say that I think the author of this article doesn't quite realise the many other factors that have not aided the African population.
These other factors, I believe there are many. Some very simple and others more complex. I really don't believe that Africa has been helped by it's geography or it's history. the continent, has probably been the most abused of all by nature and by other races. It is no real excuse that Africa hasn't advanced as much as the rest of the world, but it has certainly been hindered throughout its history.
Over here in the UK, we have a large number of Nigerian immigrants. In fact, out of all the immigrants coming into the UK, the Nigerians are overall the best performing of them all. By performing I mean to say that these are the people getting into the best jobs and earning the most money. It is Britain who is taking on Nigerian doctors and nurses! That is an example of both the positive and the negative side of Africa today. Africa is seeing their skilled workers, the people with intelligence and ability to support and create a stable country, leave their homeland.
I must agree with the sentiment on Africa needing to pull itself together and prove to the world that it has something to offer. I am tired of hearing of the past and seeing all the dark fingers pointing at others, blaming them for their problems. They need to work for the collective and they need to do it themselves.
Anyone who has visited or lived in Nigeria knows that the difficulties go much deeper that what anyone is discussing on this forum. I love Nigeria and have a great affinity with the place and its people BUT until we change the people in power's mindset and way of thinking, stop them chanelling their intelligence into corruption and blackmail and give the people on the streets, the everyday people like you and I who have to function on a day to day basis and try to make a living, until we give them their basic human rights on a daily basis things are going to be a long time changing. Morality only come with a full belly. We in the west can criticise and make moral judgements BUT we do not know what it is like to have no electricity for 7 days and still be charged for it, no hot running water, roads that anywhere in the west would classed as impassable and salaries (if thats what you can call them) that do nothing to encourage intelligent human beings in making good sound decisions and judgements. When the government is openly corrupt and plays with people's emotions and black mails individuals when they have something they know someone else wants, how on earth can we expect most of the general public in Nigeria to behave with good ethics and morals when they have no role models at the top. Its a "if you cant beat them join them" mentality. If you and your family are starving, have no decent job that pays a decent wage, persistently have to drink dirty water thus contracting typhoid regularly, no electricity most of the time in unbearable humidity and heat and young children to take care of its inevitable that some will be forced to do things they know are morally wrong BUT desperate people do desperate things. This has nothing to do with who has the most intelligence, its the way we use our intelligence and how we apply it. I have visited and lived in Ketu, Lagos on many ocassions and I firmly believe that we in the west need to help with education and changing their thinking and mindset in order that they can see a beautiful future for a country full of many beautiful people who just want to be given their basic human right and get on with looking after their families and making a reasonable living.
Is this then not the actual problem the writer is putting forward. The lack of ability by the masses to see wrong and and respond appropriately as a people. If you see shit in your won backyard, wont you do anything to have it removed? Would you stand by and get busy with blaming the shiter, while the shit stays there? Wake up and smell the reality and don't be a statistic of what the author of this article is saying. If we be intellingent enough, then we should be acknowledging were we are and make concrete plans and strides towards where we would like to be, than keep defending the obvious!!!!
I find it strange that people immediately equate relative average intellegence to unintellegent. I am less intellegent than Albert Einstein. I am less intellegent than my daughter. I am less intellegent than probably more than half the population of the planet. But I don't think of myself as unintellegent. Also, what type of intellegence are we talking about ? If it was the ability to speak many languages, then I think black people are more capable in this type of intellegence, on average, than white peple (or at least more able to apply themselves). I also believe that Oriental people are more intellegent (at scientific logic for eg) than white people, generally. Yet I would be classified white - am I saying I am unintellegent? Of course not.
And I can't even spell the word Intelligent, apparently, either, that says even more! I have become far too reliant on spell-checkers for my own good.
And I can't even spell the word Intelligent, apparently, either, that says even more! I have become far too reliant on spell-checkers for my own good.
I think the issue of the article is not about what black people could have done in the past and the fact that a few black people here and there have made srtides in the so-called intelligent world, but the fact that despite a few climbing up the ladder of success we don't see reflecting on their won societies. And if we have such a rich history as you are purpoting, what then went wrong with our inner ability to rise abive setbacks and be what we aught to be. I think that it is a waste of time and energy for you to try to defend what is the obvious without even attempting to offer answers and possibly solutions afterwards. The writer of the article is simply putting factual evedence as they see it and it is up to you and me probably to come and with answers to their dilemma, than defending the obvious with mediorcre stories of very sporadic drops of what yu may purpote as success!!!!
Dear Idang,
as a fellow Nigerian, please allow me to dismantle your article, paragraph by paragraph and let me point out the obvious and not so obvious flaws inherent in your “reasoning”. Read it at http://clickafricana.com/blogs/are-black-people-dumb/
In regards to the comments made by the author "Contact" I read your blog responding to this article written by Idang. Excellent post. There were a few comments that I may not completely agree with but your did make several valid points. Of course as I said in my own post, it is really not of utmost important what material contributions one makes. Of course it is important but when all is said and done, I believe, how we serve others and how we help each other spiritually is what life is really about. If people kept this in mind I dount people would be worrying themselves over who is the "smartest" of us all.
Dear Contact
I read your blog and I am proud of your defense for Africa. But I think you are missing the point Idang is trying to make. The point he is making is 'You do not silence critics by telling them to shut up. You silence them by proving them wrong.' His is trying to provoke Africa into fierce competition with The West the way Japan did before and China is doing today.
We should be directing our outrage towards our under performance TODAY. We have to make outperforming The West a stated priority and mission in the same way the Americans made outperforming the Russians a national priority to prove they were not inferior after the launch on Sputnik into space.
We need to benchmark The West and teach our students their mission is not to simply get a degree but to outperform The West. Read! Read! Read! (No Memorizing - No Fiction) Do NOT allow them to know more than you do! I recommend reading audio books (audible.com) in groups. Pool your money and sign up for a $25 monthly subscription to continuously read 2 books a month.
Read about successful people and companies. Mix and match their strategies to come up with your own. Read about the rising economies of India and China. What are they doing right, what are they doing wrong? What strategies can we implement to outperform them?
The good thing about services like audible.com is now you can gain the wisdom of the smartest people in the world at a very cheap price. What's even better is you can now read what their intellectuals are recommending to their own citizens! That's like reading your enemies battle strategy. So you can move faster to implement the recommendations in Africa or devise a counter strategy.
The best way would be to implement this as a daily 1.5Hr. after school activity. No tests. Just continuous reading for exposure and discussion. And this is NOT just for students this is for all of Africa. For us to come up with intelligent ideas we need to continuously feed our brain with intelligent material and thoughts.
When I read your article I felt I must respond. I have never before responded to any articles in my life. But this commentary really compelled me to do so. I am not sure how to begin in my comments to you. When I read your article I felt so many things. The first thought I had was that of sadness over what looks like a person who feels much anguish over his country and ancestry. I am not African or even black for that matter but I feel so much pain when I read this commentary. First off do not say you are almost ashamed of being a part of the African race; we are what we are. None of us are God, we did not create ourselves so regardless of whom we are: a brilliant scientist, such as Watson or one of the most beautiful people in the world there is no reason for pride. These are gifts that are given. It is how you use them.
Of course this is one of the things that does upset you: you mention the natural resources and bounties that have been given Africa but utilized to what avail? I understand this, you do raise some important points but Ithink you have taken this thought too far. It is true that there is much trouble in Africa at the moment and I commend you for acknowledging this instead of simply being outraged at what Watson said. You are right, when there are problems one must make note of them in order to help themselves. I also think you are on the right track when you ask for God's guidance and wisdom. That is the only way! The only way for all countries for that matter (wealthy or not); we all need God’s wisdom..
Your thoughts above acknowledged, but to think of yourself or your culture or any culture as somehow not worthwhile is not reasonable thinking. If you look at things from a long term historical perspective you will remember that all countries, cultures, regions go through times of inventiveness, times of prosperity and times of malaise, chaos or war. That is the nature of Mankind's civilizations. Remember at one time ancient Rome looked at the Northern European countries (which you praise) as barbarians. China at one time was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world but look what happened under the time of Mao. Keeping in mind the historical perspective is important. Not to mention, just the geography and terrain of Africa has made it difficult: in Africa, you have so many things to deal with physically that were not as great a burden for others in historical development (i.e. Malaria is more dangerous and rampant in the African continent then any other place in the world, there are more life threatening parasites there, there were not many suitable animals for domestication, such hardships as these could have contributed to lack of historical development).
Aside from all this, I look to what you said as to the fact that we are all God's children. While achieving technological greatness (to better our everyday lives) is important this is not the most important. Take a look at Ecclesiastes (in the Bible) to find what is really important for "God's children (black, white, yellow or red). I urge you to study this book. I think you may come back with an added perspective on your anguish over Africa.
And as to the issue of intelligence, please remember this ""For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48. If it were in fact true that black people were less intelligent, then well those that are more intelligent should be using their gift in humble service to give a hand to those that are not (I stress humbly). The reason our world is in the mess it is, is because we don’t want to work together.
Speaking again on intelligence, I agree with one of the early commentators that some African people are highly brilliant. Here in America, I see many African immigrants (several from your country) doing quite well. I doubt that the probelms in Africa stem purely from a lack of intelligent people. The problems facing Africa today are a lack of wisdom, pure greed and simply not carrying for one’s fellow man. But this is not an occurrence in Africa alone. When you lament over the mess your continent is in, please remember the continent of Europe in the chaos and destruction of World War 2 (just 60 years ago) not much different then places such as the Congo today.
Now in closing, I ask you not to worry about Watson’s remarks as to rather Africans are less intelligent in creating societies but to focus on the last words in your message “I am confident God will reveal to us what we must do, and urgently too, to change our terribly unflattering circumstances.” This is excellent advice for all of us in this wide world and inspires me personally, even though I am far removed from Africa, living myself in Los Angeles, California.
And since you do truly seem to have a deep belief God, I leave you with these words from the New Testament
“For consider your calling, brothers not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. “ 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God bless
P.S. Staceyt28 is right there have been many accomplishments of artistry and technology in African history but that aside I urge you again to look to the words from Ecclesiastes for that which is really important in regards to this subject
I am Jewish, I agree with author. Having such a positive thoughts he himself should be a leader, with ability to bring not only his people, but other people in the world to the best.
I agree also. Someone who has the courage to look boldly in the mirror at one's faults is someone with true wisdom (although I still maintain that perhaps the author took his thesis too far). However his willingness to bow to God and ask for guidance while taking strong action to better himself and his country is one to be admired and inspired by. Besides, sitting back and spending all your time assigning blame will not bring solutions to the problem at hand. As they say you can’t change the past but you can make a new future.
I wish the author luck in his goal for a better country. Since the author references Asian success stories, I urge him to look at Taiwan which not that many years ago had a government where opposition leaders "disappeared" and now although still not perfect has built a prosperous, peaceful country with free speech to be found all around thriving.
You, Idang Alibi, are another example of self hate! Why not ask smarty pants Watson to tell us what "ibu onye iberibe" means?
You need to study your history and get up off of your knees. God can hear you just as well standing up, maybe even better.
For Watson to make such an ignorant statement really shows what his real contribution to the world has been...to propagate discord and hate throughout the world.
Watson did, however, indicate that he comes from an ancestry and family history of insanity.
I fail to see the relationship between Watson's family history and Alibi's astute reasoning. I suppose the deducement is there and perhaps it will surface. Till then, I will just embrace the facts as factual data usually proves out to be the winner in a debate using logic.
This writer is a most wise person and has the fortitude to recognize a situation for what it is and why a transition is in need.
Now, this shows clear intellect.
But, I'm correct. That's all that matters. Remember........sticks and stones.........hehehehe!
Dea Sir, I am a 57 year old disabled bricklayer, I also write songs and read extensively, internet freepress. I am British, white, faily well educated and privileged to have been born here. I once worked in the bush of southern Sudan in 1985 as an oil prospector, driller actually. I had the most thrilling and humbling time of my life to have experienced a grass root education of living with Africa's poorest. They were the Arabs of El Muglad in southern Darfur, now sadly, apparently involved with the atrocities in that region. In '85, they were simply ' Bugarra ', or cow-people, scraping an existence from the arid land with their cattle until America's Chevron were invited to find oil. I only worked there for 3 months, but I regularly recall with clarity, every single day's experience, wishing I could return one day to see my beautiful freinds. One of whom was an english school-teacher named Nawai Hamed, a teacher in Khartoum, many of his family worked in the Sahel with me. I learned how to speak basic Arabic phonetically, which I still pride myself on to this day. O.K., that's me my freind. My point is, I do not for one second accept that black people are less intelligent than whites, or inferior. Labourers are only such because of lack of opportunity or education. Yes, your leaders are generally corrupt. But whom did they learn their dark arts from? British, French, Dutch and German colonialists when your continent was just entering the modern age in the 17th. and 18th. centuries. Slavery is the biggest evil ever perpetrated upon mankind, and your continent had little chance to start on a level playing field during that crucial time of world development. Just look at black Americans or Britains who were born into these countries, many of whom excelled in the arts or industry, Condoleeza Rice, black American female, being one of the most powerful people on earth. Music, sport and other arts are dominated by blacks of both gender. I know from working 12 hour days with Sudanese men that personality, natural intelligence and humour is no different from any of my own race. A big difference being that of humility, scarce amongst Europeans. If you are as educated as I think you are, you should know that the U.S. has been insidiously creating and perpetuating disease amongst negroids since the fifties, via vaccinations and most recently, the A.I.D.S. virus which was created in Fort Detrick in Florida by remnants of Nazi scientists, spirited away from Germany to the U.S. in ' operation paperclip 'in 1945. Don't believe me, google all of this for yourself. An evil cabal of the richest families on earth have conspired to eliminate by war and subterfuge, not just blacks and other 'ethnic undesirables ', but 85% of the world's population in order to have the world for themselves. The ' new world order ', often spoken about publicly now by presidents, was once only whispered amongst themselves. Western Society has been skilfully engineered by television propaganda, materialism and immorality to be unaware of their takeover of governments and media. Take a look please at websites of such writers as Henry Makow and Alex Jones. The world bank too, is not your freind.
Hmmm, "contact" gives a response on his site showing Africans are intelligent by including a scam "scientist" and a scam "father of the internet" (Google them, it's not pretty), along with inventions from Africa thousands of years ago. Yeah, well Nigerians invented a few clever internet scams too, but that's not enough to end corruption and poverty.
Good post, Idang - a continent tilted towards corruption and an excuse to engage in endless self-pity and victimhood isn't going to have an easy time breaking out of the mold to develop self-dependence, but I hear that Angola and Uganda are 2 countries that are developing real growing economies (i.e. not based just on mineral wealth, but actual creation of goods and services).
In terms of historical self-pity, Arabs also go through the pangs of "we used to be glorious" from some 1000 years ago, which of course is irrelevant now, and aside from oil wealth they have trouble creating too. The Asians have done much better in recreating themselves - forget about all the agriculture theories - focus on some kind of up-and-coming high-tech that a poor infrastructure with few educated people can manage to sustain and push resources that way.
ListlessInParis
The question of the true history of Africa and contemporary black intelligence is one hell of a connundrum. My personal experience from a white ex-liberal standpoint is that the Black race in general is something of a disaster; one I was loath to admit. Black racism against Whites is a horrible reality and I couldn't understand this at first; I was completely in denial. Then I read The Black Manifesto 2007; it is a despicable document. From my experience, Blacks are falling for the same line as Jews as 'special status' victims who demand 'special treatment' in preference to natives of their host countries; natives who fought hard against white and black slavery for the freedoms of a decent wage and open speech, the practice of their chosen religions without persecution and right to decent housing, clean water and basic health care. These freedoms are being critically undermined, eroded even by the demands of these special interest/minority groups and I strongly suspect the Black people are being cynically manipulated into a race war with whites of epic proportions.
I could write volumes on this. Yes, I can see that it would appear that the claims of Watson and this author are easily justified, when we look at the gungster kulture poisoning the human spirit, and it makes me sick at the way Blacks immediately jump on the 'racist' bandwagon instead of getting off their butts and making a contribution. Many do but they are overshadowed by those who have no pride in their race and undermine efforts and achievements of their so-called sisters and brothers.
However, I also know that there is a great mystery shrouding African History (indeed the entire history of the human species) and we must not forget that Egypt, once a great civilisation, lay in North Africa, the Eygyptians were African, as were the Dogon and other wise ones who knew the constellations way in advance of ole whitey!
Africa has been horribly abused by the same powers responsible for all human abuse and it is well to remember that the victors write the history. But the only history the Blacks get in Europe or America is one of slavery!
I think the Zulu Shaman, Credo Mutwa, is the only keeper of the true history of Africa that I have encountered and how many blacks have heard of him?
Will we ever know the truth of what Africa and her people were before comtemporary history propoganda was written? Are any black people trying to unravel the mysteries found in ancient archaology?
It sickens me to hear blacks bleating on about their 'roots' and Black History whilst comfortably reaping the rewards of 'racism' in counries far, far from home while Africa bleeds to death. Hypocrites! Traitors!
And it's true what this author says, why do they get so defensive, when they have done so little to support their land and prove these accusations false?
I would not judge our 'civilisation' or 'society' of concrete jungles, neurosis and horrible military weaponry as a sign of intelligence. Far more intelligent, is to work within the majesty and extraordinary intelligence of nature. I suspect that our ancient forebears had a far better life, a life of abundance, of simplicity.
Ultimately, I am of the view or knowledge that the human family has one common foe and these factions of white/black, jew/gentile, man/womb-man are created to divide and rule. We are collectively reaching a point of no return and if we choose to be divided we shall fall; this time for good.
But having said this, it will take Black voices such as this author's to wake Blacks up to the foolish and destructive corruption and complacency to which they have been seduced and to stop blaming their predicament on everyone with a white skin.
You are a complete Idiot aligning yourself with such moronic statements by a self proclaimed madman. I am so sick of you self hating Nigerians that continue to foster this colonial mentality and inferiority complex to any other race. I beg don't let your obvious psychological inadequacies and low self esteem further embarrass our race. You complain about our elections in Nigeria, I guess you have great faith in the American system which has been reduced to manure these past 7 years. I wish I knew you I would personally slap you! knowing you, you would probably thank me and say you deserved it....Moron!
True Africans have failed to show organisation but I also do not want the writer of the article to compare blacks and whites in South Africa because as we all know blacks in south africa were never given the same opportunities as whites out of deliberate apartheid . same thing with america till the 1960's so u cant expect them to be up to scratch in inventions and innovations if they have only just begun formal education. i find the article a bit shallow- it does not diagnoise why africans are the way there and the extent to which it has affected their development as a race. Lokk deeper!!!
wow! interesting read. but i do not agree with his picking on Nigeria to show that the black man is not intelligent. he should have started with a definition of intelligence so we know what exactly his basis for defining us as unintelligent is. If Nigerians have shown themselves to be dull and lacking in intelligence, it does not automatically lead to his conclusion that the black man is unintelligent. generalisation is a very stupid thing to do, especially in support of a racist idiot who has no idea what he is talking about. what studies did the original speaker conduct all over schools in the world, comparing white with black performance to deduce his statement? if he says we have not applied our intelligence in making life better for our fellow blacks, then i might agree with him. but his conclusion is fallacious and therefore should be condemned. i do not know about you, but i am Black, Nigerian, AND intelligent. The words are not mutually exclusive.
The reason why black Africa is suffering from the evils described in the article is not because Africans are genetically less intelligent that other races but because they live in Africa.
About a thousand years ago European culture was still tribal but cold winters, population growth and resource depletion forced them (my ancestors) to learn to cooperate or die.
Africa is mostly tropical so there is no winter coming with the threat of death by hunger and cold to focus the mind on cooperating with "society" and Africa is also very rich in stuff that other countries are willing to fight over. I believe it is this combination and the culture which has evolved to cope with it which is responsible for Africa's afflictions.
I disagree with Dr Watson.
I also disagree with you Idang Alibi.
Please allow me to make a few definitions first. Dr James Watson is one of the world’s most respected scientists, a Nobel Prize winner for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, read Zoology for his first degree, 79 years old, married with children, he is a white American man and an atheist.
Intelligence means knowledge or the ability to know MORE. To be intelligent means to be knowledgeable, usually used to refer to people (irrespective of race) who are more knowledgeable than others because their brain (human body organ) has the ability, strength, and capacity to know more. Wisdom is basically the gift of having good judgment or good application of knowledge (intelligence). Black people, according to Dr James Watson, are 'Africans – specifically native Black Africans'. Africa, according to Dr James Watson again, as a continent, is somehow genetically inferior.Chineke! forgive this man.
Human Intelligence is relative to an individual’s life experience - history, where we live and our up-bringing, tradition and education amongst other things. Intelligence can therefore be measured on how well a human brain is developed based on our own experiences in life. That is to say a human being can make good judgment about something based on good knowledge of that thing(or similar experience about a similar thing) - if that human being has had the privilege to know about that thing.
To strongly oppose Dr. Watson(and Idang), I can even argue that intelligence is not genetic (and therefore racial). Let’s look at this example. Compare two people born from the a man and a woman - parents of the same race, one born when these parents have no economic means to send the first child to school (or provide an environment with 'modern civilization') at an early age and the other born when the parents have the means to send that child to school at an early age. The first child is more likely to be generally less intelligent than the second child based on many factors including environment, food,health, child(brain) development etc.(speaking from my own experience). This is one case, but has race played a part? No.
There are whites who know more than blacks and blacks who know more than whites - end of story. However, it is possible to state that there could be more intelligent whites in numbers than there are blacks, simply because of privilege, history and the fact that we are at different levels of development.
Therefore we cannot say black people are less intelligent than White people to mean that the brains of black people have less ability to know (and know more) or to have good judgment.
There is more logical evidence to prove Dr Watson wrong and that makes it unnecessary to prove scientifically or otherwise that black people are less intelligent than white people.
In my view, and if my definitions above are right, Dr Watson is ill informed about Africa and its native people or let me just say all none-white races and whites as well. I know that he commented for scientific purposes, but I see his statement more racist than scientific. And for the author of this article (“I agree with Dr Watson”), Idang Alibi (if he exists as a real black human being), you are also not well informed, you are less intelligent and irrational.
Chaps, Africa.
To strongly oppose Dr. Watson(and Idang), I can even argue that intelligence is not genetic (and therefore NOT racial). ....
While you are examining the details of what was written, take a step back. Do you really think an African wrote this? Does anyone know Idang Alibi is a real person. This sounds like a middle-aged white man with an agenda. Don’t be fooled and don’t believe everything you read!
I agree with alibi. Africans should start forming progressive forum to address these issues. Nigerias need tpo engage in politics and be ready to fight the evil unitelligent looters. Something is missing in the life of Africans. Kindly read my blogs.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-pyfXViA8eqg7vNpgN7BbTikGa5dV?p=4 Just look at some of the things holding us bacward.
Mr. Alibi,
I am deeply saddened by your article. It pains me to the deepest parts of my core to hear a man of your intelligence fall victim to the lasting oppression of white colonialism in Africa.
First, let me say, that many of the set backs our brothers and sisters in many African nations saddens me as well. Extreme poverty, corrupt leadership, lack of schools and supplies, have prevented our brothers and sisters from being able to rise up and take advantage of the freedoms that so many of our mothers and fathers fought and died for. And while we all certainly bear a lot of the responsibility for our own destinies, there are many things you are forgetting.
Tell me, brother, from where and when did our poverty begin? Who was it that denied us food when we were hungry, who denied us water when we were thirsty, who took our lands and homesteads from us and drove us to barren landscapes where we were forced to scrape at the dust for survival? Those who were able to get jobs in city, who was it that forced us to commute several hours and pay transportation fees and high rents, so that at the end of the year, we were perpetually in debt? Who was it that denied us a full education and told us we were incapable of learning in the higher order? Who told us that, like animals, our bodies were better suited for labor? Who was it that stole our mothers, sisters, and daughters for their carnal pleasure, only to dump them in the veld when they were through?
The abuse of our people in our own land lasted for many generations. It instilled a sense of inferiority in us that we still not have escaped. We have come to believe our colonial masters. And now that we control our lands, we find that our minds are still controlled by the colonial masters. Our leaders are stricken with envy, jealousy, and greed for what has been denied to them for so long, wealth. And now they do many terrible, horrific things in an effort to keep that power, that wealth, that they believe will make them more respected in the eyes of our old colonial masters.
Yes, we need intelligent, non-corrupt leaders. But where will we find such men and women? I tell you, Mr. Alibi, if you and many others of us, keep on judging ourselves against the white world, if we continue to believe in the inferiority of our people, we will never find such leaders.
You are right, only we can help ourselves. We have known that for a very long time. It is certain that our colonisers will not help us. As you said, China will not help us. Only we can help ourselves. How do we do such a thing you may now ask. It is no easy task, but we must be bitterly strong. We must not allow ourselves to believe what Dr. Watson and others postulate. We must free our minds from their grasp, from their "theories." We must be weary of our corrupt leaders and not be afraid to criticize them, for they are not true brothers and sisters who remember our names. We need to remember what it means to be black. That we are men and women, not dogs and pigs. That we are intelligent.
Yes, much of my speech may seem idealistic, perhaps Utopian. But we must remember why we are where we are today. It is because of colonialism. Because everything we had was stripped away from us. And we were told and finally convinced that we were inferior to whites. From where do you think our corrupt leaders receive their bribes? From us, from our fellow brothers and sisters. No, my brother, those whom you see indicted in courts or caught by police, those are only the intermediaries. They have been fooled by those above them. And who is above them? It is not a difficult question. It can only be those that have been above us for much of our modern history, those who have held the whip and have not hesitated to crack it. Only they now wear suits in far away lands and dangle fake money and power in front of our leaders' greedy mouths.
So I ask you not to blame our brothers and sisters. Yes, we must hold our corrupt leaders to account, but we must not look upon our sons and daughters and tell them that we are not as intelligent. For that would be a lie, a lie that too many of us, fathers and mothers, have come to believe. You know the mind of child, it will believe anything it is told. So we must tell our children the truth. We must tell them they are beautiful and that they are intelligent. But we must be careful not to instill hatred for past wrongdoings, for hatred and revenge will only distract us from our task at hand. We must be careful that our children do not blame themselves before they have even had the opportunity to achieve.
But before you can do that Mr. Alibi, my brother, you must stop blaming yourself. You must believe that you are intelligent and renounce the lies of our colonial masters. Do not fool yourself into believing they have completely abandoned us, their legacy still weighs heavily over our heads, and we must keep walking in order to reach bluer skies.
"A people without a positive history is like a vehicle without an engine." - Steve Biko
I think Africa's situation arises from two problems: no concept of the rule of law, and tribalism.
In social dealings, it is perfectly alright to say, "You are my family and I won't deal with anyone else." But in politics, it's just deeply wrong and foolish. Once one tribe has the power of the state, it is used to punish the others for no reason besides "the others" not being part of the "elect." That is irrational and collectivist thinking and nothing good has ever come from collectivism.
Second, and related, to be civilized, a nation must have the rule of law, or, believe that everyone in the country will be treated according to the same legal system. This is increasingly rare in the world and sometimes I even despair of it in the US, but it is the sine qua non of any civilized society. I am unaware of any country in Africa where the rule of law prevails (due at least somewhat to tribalism) and that is why Africa is not free and successful.
I dispair that the very people to whom this article and commentry like it, is aimed at, will ever get the points made instead of doing the very thing the article says is the reason Africa is in the crap state it's in. It's so much easier to go off on a "racist, White Colonial" bash and blame session instead. Yep! because that's the way it's always been ... no-one, even black people, can offer honest, constructive criticism because they MUST be racists or white lovers or black haters! Here is something Constructive we as Africans can do ... Start thinking about who we vote into power, start shouting when the politicians start to steal and cheat and collectively get the idiots sent to jail. Stand up to our rights for fair elections. If they don't look like they will be fair then don't vote for the cheating bullies. The International press is usually around at elections, if they don't see any voters, they are sure to send that information back out around the world aren't they. Before Elections look around you and examine the promises politicians make to gain your Vote, check and see if they delivered on their past promises or if they cheated you out of them. Make sure the promises are not some fairy tale that in all logical thinking can never come true.
'They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English.
I can't even talk the way these people talk:
Why you ain't, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be...
And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk.
And then I heard the father talk.
Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth.
In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living.
People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around.
The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.
These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids.
$500 sneakers for what ? ?
And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics!!
I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit.
Where were you when he was 2 ? ?
Where were you when he was 12 ? ?
Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol ? ?
And where is the father ? ? Or who is his father ?
People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong?
People with their hats on backward, pants down around their crack, isn't that a sign of something ?
Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up ?
Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body?
What part of Africa did this come from??
We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa
With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and all of that crap . . .. . .
and all of them are in jail.
Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem.
We have got to take the neighborhood back.
People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now.
We have millionaire football players who cannot read.
We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job.
Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us.
We have to start holding each other to a higher standard.
WE CANNOT BLAME THE WHITE PEOPLE ANY LONGER.'
Dr. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed.D. on the black youth in America.
He could be talking about anyone in Africa these days.....
Hello Idang,
If you're serious about promoting the best interests of the population of Africa, then surely the secret has to be to leapfrog current thinking in the West and Asia around how organisations are managed - notably around how the work gets done, how organisations are structured and the management process.
This way, African organisations could skip a couple of generations of (flawed) managerial thinking and blaze a new trail of efficiency and effectiveness.
This would not be difficult.
Do let me know if you would be interested in exploring this idea, online or offline.
Regards,
Alan alan7785@hotmail.com
First of all, who said that we are different races?*
My European ancestors did.
Why? What for?
Because they needed to justify their systematic pillage of the African continent.
That's one thing. I do not consider myself of a different race from any other human being on the planet. Our differences are not superficial. Or rather our main differences. In every place on our planet, there are people who want to live together with others and respect them, and there is those who show scrupules in exploiting others.
How can you say that Africans have never organized their socities? Anyone who knows African societies knows how social construct in Africa is varied and strong.
I feel so much pity for you that you would feel the way you do, but please, keep it for yourself. You are just feeding the racists with the most stupid arguments they hope for.
If Nigeria is in a mess, it's because of a certain "elite" that has been working hand in hand with the Oil companies.
Really, I think you shouldn't waste your time writing such unbelievable things about yourself.
How can you hope to go forward with such a discourse.
Hopefully I know quite a few Africans who are absolutely not in that frame of mind.
And for your information, there are so-called "white" people who are NOT racist, because they simply do not follow the belief that there are races.
I am one of them
CS
This article is an example of why as black people we are often our greatest enemies. How can you ignore all accomplishments of black througout history and agree that we are not intelligent. In ancient history, Look at the accomplishment Nubia, Mali (timbuktu/Djenne), Ethopia, Benin. In modern history, do some research on the black inventors, entrepeneurs, writers, and intellectuals. Please read some books before making broad, uninformed self-hating statements about the intelligence of your race.
Secondly, realize that the history of the degradation directly relates to foreign and domestic misdeeds. Let's look act the intervention of the CIA, the multinatinal corporations, and other interests that propped up some of these dictators. What would have happened to America, for instance, if the French decided to side with the British in the revolutinary war and worked systemically to kill off all progressives, would America be the same as it is today. Is this really an issue of intelligence?
Please do not succumb to ignorance and self-hatred, instead use your position to point people towards truth and understanding. I am all for personal responsiblity but that is very different from historical amnesia and the decision to agree with racists who call you inferior.