Akwe Amosu
23 April 2004
(Page 2 of 2)
Which is why I was struck that he used a word I always think is odd coming from a journalist - "our".
"It is foolish to think that Washington should carry the burden of blame for most of Africa's problems, or even of tiny Liberia's, but a thread of ignorance and contempt ran through OUR (my emphasis) covert sponsorship of Africa's first coup d'etat..."
French, in common with many of his compatriots, sometimes uses "we" and "America" interchangeably.
Insofar as it is compatible with being a free commentator on his subject, it jars. But insofar as this demonstrates his willingness to accept responsibility for his government's actions, it is valuable.
I personally don't feel comfortable using the 'We' word in relation to any national grouping of which I might claim membership. But this may be a journalist’s affectation.
The overwhelming impression left by this book is of a government - in this case led by Bill Clinton, but French believes it to be true of other administrations too - that damages the U.S.’ reputation in Africa, and fails Africa to boot. Mr. French's conscience may lead him to take responsibility for his nation, but the rest of us might wonder how much leverage he and his compatriots really have over what is done in Africa in their name.
French's book does feature massacres, illness, violent elections and other African clichés in significant volume. But unlike many of those who have written comparable volumes, he has made common cause with Africa’s people, rather than seeing them, from afar, as unfortunate victims.
In what now seems like another time, Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney and similar voices dominated the discourse on Africa with their uncompromising message about who was responsible for Africa's predicament. French is certainly in their camp. But I think he would also endorse a new mantra that is as important for these times as was the challenge to colonialism in theirs.
Africa's most impressive thinkers today argue that Africans have to take responsibility for our own experience and, above all, that we are up to that task. Such a self-confident approach implies an ability to own one’s faults rather than blaming others.
The new determination in Africa to bring change to the continent is not contradicted by French’s conviction that the international community can serve Africa better. On the contrary, the possibility that the two views may combine should give readers new hope for the future.
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