Stereotypes In Curtis Keim's 'Mistaking Africa'

1404 Words3 Pages

“Mistaking Africa” is an eye opener for curious minds and truth grabbers. Curtis Keim’s book presents the negativity and reveal the true essence of Africa. Keim shows us the most used stereotypes and misrepresentation of views that Western society and others have implied to Africa. Kein goes into strong details about where these stereotypes came from, how these stereotypes harm Africans, and how we can change our views to help educate ourselves. These stereotypes are damaging and it shows how society as a whole has a hard time opening up to different cultures and lifestyles. One chapter that’s significant is chapter five titles “Where is the Real Africa?” This chapter discusses the difference between what we want Africa to be versus how Africa really is. It helps explain pattern ideas and how to leave these received molds in order to more forward and learn the true meaning to African …show more content…

Western society has set a high standard of what they believe others should have, how their native people should think,behave, grow, and accomplishments that should already be made. Yet, Western culture feel that they are superior to others and they are trendsetter to the way of life. Keim shows the stereotypes created against Africans and how we can get rid of these stereotypes all together. In order to understand someone or something different we must understand their language. Keim explains “because language is the major key to understanding how people mentally organize the world around them.” (p.4) It’s also important to learn African language because not all words are interpret the same way. For example, in chapter one Keims describe words like “native, hut, warrior, shield, tribe, etc are commonly associated with traditional Africa.” (p. 5)

Show More
Related

  • The Changing Duality of Race, Martha Hodes

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mazrui, Ali A. "The Re-Invention of Africa: Edward Said, V. Y. Mudimbe, and Beyond." Research in African Literatures 36, no. 3 (Autumn 2005): 68-82.

    Read More

  • Andrew Larson 's The Student 's ' Ten Commandments '

    1505 Words  | 4 Pages

    Concerning the nature of myths, one can often find that they are built on broad generalization lacking the premises necessary to make a solid conclusion. Such was the same myths, Pier Larson sought to disprove in his essay “The Student’s ‘Ten Commandments’.” Larson discuss damaging and caustic stereotypes that have worked their way throughout history to create a narrative that often subordinates Blacks when promulgated by a more affluent European society . One myth in particular appears to be quite troubling for its contradictory nature-that being the myth: all Africans are Black. Additionally, to be African is to be Black, Africans are not culturally diverse, and that Africans share one, essentially unified culture. Not only do I find these troubling for their outright abasement of African culture, which is plain to see, but rather for the duplicitous logic that lead to the creation of such myths, and why they remain so harmful when they are continued to be spread in contemporary.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast African Americans And Hernando De Soto

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

        The traditional European Society was both similar and different to that of the West African society. Except certain factors determined how they would vary in opinions, this also affected how they handled situations when they faced an obstacle. The Europeans, Africans, and the Native Americans were diverse in their own ways , they had many similarities , but they took different approaches to situations.(Chapter 1,Page 6)

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'Different But Equal'

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Different but Equal” is a video in which Basil Davidson, the narrator, attempts to expand and heighten the understanding that Western civilization has about Africa. Often thought of as underdeveloped or uncivilized, Basil focuses mainly on the accomplishments of Africans throughout the years and uses them to contrast the surprisingly popular belief of African inferiority. Just a few of the main issues being brought up are how Europeans routinely discredited African accomplishments, the often disputed race of the Egyptians and their society, and why the thought that Africans are ‘uncivilized’ isn’t accurate. The video uses science, archaeology and history combined with the input of well-known researchers to give a more accurate depiction of

    Read More

  • African American Stereotype Essay

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stereotypes about the African American culture have existed since dispersal of African descent, dating back to the colonial era. They have evolved from slavery, to black face shows, to the modern drug lords and welfare queens. But one stereo typed that has remained constant is that African Americans are inferior to white people in every aspect of life. Through this very stereo type black people are forced to combat prejudice and discrimination in their everyday routine.

    Read More

  • European Worldview Essay

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that as we grow up a worldview just kind of ingrades itself on us, we tell ourselves that that particular viewpoint is the normal one. European and African worldviews are completely different, analyzing both of them I can state that the European worldview is shallow and greedy. People who pride themselves on the European worldview are materialistic, only care about external fake beauty, and only care for themselves. People who have African worldview care for other in a genuine way, see beauty for what on the inside and not the outside, and have interpersonal

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Basil Davidson's 'Different But Equal'

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the first segment of his film series, Different but Equal, Basil Davidson sets out to disprove the fictitious and degrading assumptions about African civilization made by various Western scholars and explorers. Whether it is the notion that Africans are “savage and crude in nature” or the presumed inability of Africans to advance technologically, these stereotypes are damaging to the image and history of Africa. Although European Renaissance art depicts the races of white and black in equal dignity, there was a drastic shift of European attitudes toward Africa that placed Africans in a much lower standing than people of any other culture. The continent of Africa quickly became ravished by the inhuman slave trade and any traditional civilization

    Read More

  • The Danger Of A Single Story

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the world, people have always and will always judge each other based on their skin tone, their accent, their home country or other obvious features that we immediately see or hear about them. We often formulate our opinions of these people based on our first impressions of them. In 2009, Civil rights activist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses her time on her Ted-Talk to deliver her resonating speech “The Danger of a Single Story.” During her world-renowned speech, Adichie discusses human relationships, how we, as humans, interact with one another and treat each other. Adichie establishes her argument with one powerful metaphor describing common stereotypes as ‘single stories’ to demonstrate how people are affected by being judged based

    Read More

  • Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Khapoya, Vincent B. The African Experience: An Introduction. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • Negative Affects of Imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century

    1758 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... Cambridge Encyclopedia of Africa. Ed. Roland Oliver. 1. New York: Trewin Copplestone Books Limited, 1984. Print.

    Read More

  • Uganda: A Land of Pristine Beauty and Astonishing Ecosystems

    1875 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bohannan, Paul, and Philip Curtin. Africa & Africans . Long Grove: Waveland Press, Inc. , 1995.

    Read More

  • The Psychological Impact of Colonialism on the Victimization of Africans

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Africa’s struggle to maintain their sovereignty amidst the encroaching Europeans is as much a psychological battle as it is an economic and political one. The spillover effects the system of racial superiority had on the African continent fractured ...

    Read More

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.

    Read More

  • Colonialism In Africa Essay

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a grave impact on Africa. Many of Africa’s current and recent issues can trace their roots back to the poor decisions made during the European colonial era. Some good has resulted however, like modern medicine, education, and infrastructure. Africa’s history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never truly disappear. The fate of the continent may be unclear, but its past provides us with information on why the present is the way it is.

    Read More

  • Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood as an African Feminist Text

    3065 Words  | 7 Pages

    ...econd African Writers Conference, Stockholm, 1986. Ed. Kirsten Holst Petersen. Upsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, 1998. 173-202.

    Read More

More about Stereotypes In Curtis Keim's 'Mistaking Africa'

Open Document