Africa
1. Why do nations and people interact across boundaries? Analyze the complexities of such interactions, including a focus on power differentials. Illustrate your points with examples drawn from USA-Africa relations.
Nations and people interact across boundaries for many reasons but the primary purpose may be for the exchange of trading goods, ideas, or services. Complexities arise among interactions when cultural differences and stereotypical assumptions are present. This presents the issue of power differentials especially in the case of African history. Since the Transatlantic Slave Trade, America interacted with West Africa through powerful empires and merchants for the purpose of purchasing slaves, debunking the “stolen people” myth. However, once Africans were brought to the Americas, Americans exercised their power by implementing slavery and segregation systems among the Africans. As decades progressed, interactions among USA and Africa have significantly changed. While many people have stigmatized Africans as native, barbaric, savages, uncivilized, uneducated, and illiterate, I have learned that that is totally untrue. Chapter 4 explains that Africans organized into colonies in order to produce raw materials for Western industries. In addition, Americans, according to Chapter 5 of Mistaking Africa, has made an increasing presence in the African continent. For example, IBM has opened research labs in Kenya to assist with congested cities, and space programs have been advanced to assist farmers in rural Africa. Farmers in rural Africa not only interact with urban cities in Africa but also trade with nations globally. In addition, foreign missionaries, to include Americans, have traveled throughout Africa to spread Christian faith.
2. Drawing from Mistaking Africa, explain opinions on Africa and their consequences. Your answer must reference no less than four chapters in the book.
In Chapter 1 of Mistaking Africa, National Geographic’s article provides an
Nations and people interact across boundaries for many reasons but the primary purpose may be for the exchange of trading goods, ideas, or services. Complexities arise among interactions when cultural differences and stereotypical assumptions are present. This presents the issue of power differentials especially in the case of African history. Since the Transatlantic Slave Trade, America interacted with West Africa through powerful empires and merchants for the purpose of purchasing slaves, debunking the “stolen people” myth. However, once Africans were brought to the Americas, Americans exercised their power by implementing slavery and segregation systems among the Africans. As decades progressed, interactions among USA and Africa have significantly changed. While many people have stigmatized Africans as native, barbaric, savages, uncivilized, uneducated, and illiterate, I have learned that that is totally untrue. Chapter 4 explains that Africans organized into colonies in order to produce raw materials for Western industries. In addition, Americans, according to Chapter 5 of Mistaking Africa, has made an increasing presence in the African continent. For example, IBM has opened research labs in Kenya to assist with congested cities, and space programs have been advanced to assist farmers in rural Africa. Farmers in rural Africa not only interact with urban cities in Africa but also trade with nations globally. In addition, foreign missionaries, to include Americans, have traveled throughout Africa to spread Christian faith.
2. Drawing from Mistaking Africa, explain opinions on Africa and their consequences. Your answer must reference no less than four chapters in the book.
In Chapter 1 of Mistaking Africa, National Geographic’s article provides an