Welcome to my IFASA DP!
I will updating this blog weekly with articles, news, and other materials all focused around Africa. I will also provide my own thoughts and take aways from the material I find. My goal is to give my readers more information about what is happening in Africa. I am trying to find more positive articles about this continent to hopefully combat negative stereotypes perpetuated by the media.
New York Times South Africa Leader, Wooing Investors, Pledges to end Corruption
Overview
This New York Times article shares how the current President, Cyril Ramaphosa, is trying to end corruption in his political party. President Ramaphosa’s goal is to return the party to its former glory when it was under the Mandela administration. Critics of Ramaphosa suspect he is doing this because he is up for re-election.
Reflection
It is refreshing to hear a leader go after corruption even if it is in their own party. This article reminded of a recent tweet from Senator Elizabeth Warren on February 1st:
“These racist images are deeply disturbing. Hatred and discrimination have no place in our country and must not be tolerated, especially from our leaders – Republican or Democrat. Northam must resign.”
Senator Warren’s tweet was a reaction to the racist yearbook photo from VA Governor Northam. Even though Governor Northam and Senator Warren share a party ethically she could not stand by him solely because they are both Democrats. It takes courage to stand up for your values. I am proud of both Senator Warren and President Ramaphosa for having the integrity to stand up to injustice within their political parties
This New York Times article shares how the current President, Cyril Ramaphosa, is trying to end corruption in his political party. President Ramaphosa’s goal is to return the party to its former glory when it was under the Mandela administration. Critics of Ramaphosa suspect he is doing this because he is up for re-election.
Reflection
It is refreshing to hear a leader go after corruption even if it is in their own party. This article reminded of a recent tweet from Senator Elizabeth Warren on February 1st:
“These racist images are deeply disturbing. Hatred and discrimination have no place in our country and must not be tolerated, especially from our leaders – Republican or Democrat. Northam must resign.”
Senator Warren’s tweet was a reaction to the racist yearbook photo from VA Governor Northam. Even though Governor Northam and Senator Warren share a party ethically she could not stand by him solely because they are both Democrats. It takes courage to stand up for your values. I am proud of both Senator Warren and President Ramaphosa for having the integrity to stand up to injustice within their political parties
New York Times Nairobi Attack: Shabab Claims Responsibility for Assault
Overview
This New York Times article depicts the atrocities Al Shabab committed on a luxury hotel and office building in Nairobi. The assailants stormed these buildings killing one and injuring fifteen. The attack was in response to the verdict form a trial convicting four Al Shabab affiliates who organized an attack on a mall in Nairobi five years ago.
Reflection
When I was scanning news sites to find an article on Africa, this attack was the only story I could find. I went to Africa News out of curiosity, I looked around for news on American, there were articles talking about our countries politics, economics, and pop culture. This made me think the majority of Americans who are reading on American news sites saw a terrorist attack in Africa, while when Africans see American news it’s not all negative. The opposite is true for Americans, our news rarely reports on the positives in Africa. This revelation made me think of an assignment I read earlier in the week, How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina, his article was satirical, but its message was clear: Africa is stereotyped as a barbarian continent. American news outlets are perpetuating adverse generalizations about Africa and it is contributing to how Americans perceive the Africans.
Moving forward as I continue to look for articles to post on my digital portfolio, my goal is to find and post more positive articles about African than negative ones. As a reader, I challenge you to do the same when reading about Africa in the news.
This New York Times article depicts the atrocities Al Shabab committed on a luxury hotel and office building in Nairobi. The assailants stormed these buildings killing one and injuring fifteen. The attack was in response to the verdict form a trial convicting four Al Shabab affiliates who organized an attack on a mall in Nairobi five years ago.
Reflection
When I was scanning news sites to find an article on Africa, this attack was the only story I could find. I went to Africa News out of curiosity, I looked around for news on American, there were articles talking about our countries politics, economics, and pop culture. This made me think the majority of Americans who are reading on American news sites saw a terrorist attack in Africa, while when Africans see American news it’s not all negative. The opposite is true for Americans, our news rarely reports on the positives in Africa. This revelation made me think of an assignment I read earlier in the week, How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina, his article was satirical, but its message was clear: Africa is stereotyped as a barbarian continent. American news outlets are perpetuating adverse generalizations about Africa and it is contributing to how Americans perceive the Africans.
Moving forward as I continue to look for articles to post on my digital portfolio, my goal is to find and post more positive articles about African than negative ones. As a reader, I challenge you to do the same when reading about Africa in the news.
