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The Myth of "African Inferiority" and the Power of Perception
# The Distortion of Identity
The most messed up thing that came as a result of the slave trade and colonialism was the idea that Africans are, in every way, inferior. This continues today in various forms of racism, which has branches like colorism, discrimination against Africans, and many more. The idea that "Sub-Saharan Africa" (everyone south of the Sahara) is a single identity wholly different from North Africans is also a result of this.
It is absurd because, while North Africans and Berbers are different from a person in the Congo, that person in the Congo is also just as different from someone in the Nilotic regions or the Amhara highlands. Things have improved, but not really. While the African diaspora has done well to challenge racist thoughts, the fundamental idea of "race" as something biological—which is logically wrong—is somehow still taught and accepted.
# Race vs. Biology
The idea that "Africans are black and blacks are Africans" is a very Western point of view. When I say I’m not "black," it’s not that I’m not proud of my skin color. My skin color is just an observable feature of me, like my height; it doesn't decide my ethnicity or ties. All it does is protect me from the sun. Dark skin is common in Africa because of the equator, but in no way does it tie all these diverse people into one ethnicity. Africa is the most genetically diverse continent in the world.
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# The Role of the Slave Trade and Industrialization
I don't think this idea of inferiority exists because Europeans are "evil." Europeans made it up to justify what was happening at the time. The main reason for this perception comes down to two factors. First, the slave trade made the continent stagnate and seriously hurt our demographics—not just in West Africa, but in East Africa and North Africa too, as the trans-Saharan trade died out.
When Europeans in the Americas and Europe saw people being treated like animals, and because education wasn't widespread, they simply assumed those people must not be fully human. This was a localized prejudice that developed into "scientific racism" during the Scramble for Africa.
# The "Technological Gap" Trap
During the Scramble, they used the slave trade as a justification, but what cemented the idea of inferiority was that the **Industrial Revolution** boomed Europe so far ahead. At that specific time, Africa was economically, technologically, and militarily unable to compete. While resistance was brave (like in the Zulu Wars or the Asante), Africa was eventually carved up.
This sudden conquest made Europeans genuinely believe they were superior. But they weren't "superior" in a biological sense—the Industrial Revolution even caused the once-dominant **Qing Empire** to fall into semi-colonization. Japan only barely made it out because of the **Meiji Restoration**.
# The Case of Ethiopia
This is further proven by Ethiopia. Prior to the Italian invasion, Ethiopians were considered part of the "Negro" race. But after they defeated the Italians at the **Battle of Adwa (1896)** and began to industrialize, Western newspapers (including the *New York Times*) suddenly began calling them "Black Caucasians." They were literally reclassified as "not inferior" simply because they were militarily powerful.
# The Path Forward: Power and Soft Power
The only way to truly reverse this is to become militarily, technologically, and economically powerful. If Africa is strong, then even for a "lazy thinker," racism becomes illogical.
However, strength alone isn't enough. It must be combined with **Soft Power**—exporting culture like Japan, South Korea, and the USA do. You cannot think a people are inferior if you are using their languages, watching their shows, reading their books, or using their inventions on a wide scale.
What do you guys think?
#local
source
# The Distortion of Identity
The most messed up thing that came as a result of the slave trade and colonialism was the idea that Africans are, in every way, inferior. This continues today in various forms of racism, which has branches like colorism, discrimination against Africans, and many more. The idea that "Sub-Saharan Africa" (everyone south of the Sahara) is a single identity wholly different from North Africans is also a result of this.
It is absurd because, while North Africans and Berbers are different from a person in the Congo, that person in the Congo is also just as different from someone in the Nilotic regions or the Amhara highlands. Things have improved, but not really. While the African diaspora has done well to challenge racist thoughts, the fundamental idea of "race" as something biological—which is logically wrong—is somehow still taught and accepted.
# Race vs. Biology
The idea that "Africans are black and blacks are Africans" is a very Western point of view. When I say I’m not "black," it’s not that I’m not proud of my skin color. My skin color is just an observable feature of me, like my height; it doesn't decide my ethnicity or ties. All it does is protect me from the sun. Dark skin is common in Africa because of the equator, but in no way does it tie all these diverse people into one ethnicity. Africa is the most genetically diverse continent in the world.
>
# The Role of the Slave Trade and Industrialization
I don't think this idea of inferiority exists because Europeans are "evil." Europeans made it up to justify what was happening at the time. The main reason for this perception comes down to two factors. First, the slave trade made the continent stagnate and seriously hurt our demographics—not just in West Africa, but in East Africa and North Africa too, as the trans-Saharan trade died out.
When Europeans in the Americas and Europe saw people being treated like animals, and because education wasn't widespread, they simply assumed those people must not be fully human. This was a localized prejudice that developed into "scientific racism" during the Scramble for Africa.
# The "Technological Gap" Trap
During the Scramble, they used the slave trade as a justification, but what cemented the idea of inferiority was that the **Industrial Revolution** boomed Europe so far ahead. At that specific time, Africa was economically, technologically, and militarily unable to compete. While resistance was brave (like in the Zulu Wars or the Asante), Africa was eventually carved up.
This sudden conquest made Europeans genuinely believe they were superior. But they weren't "superior" in a biological sense—the Industrial Revolution even caused the once-dominant **Qing Empire** to fall into semi-colonization. Japan only barely made it out because of the **Meiji Restoration**.
# The Case of Ethiopia
This is further proven by Ethiopia. Prior to the Italian invasion, Ethiopians were considered part of the "Negro" race. But after they defeated the Italians at the **Battle of Adwa (1896)** and began to industrialize, Western newspapers (including the *New York Times*) suddenly began calling them "Black Caucasians." They were literally reclassified as "not inferior" simply because they were militarily powerful.
# The Path Forward: Power and Soft Power
The only way to truly reverse this is to become militarily, technologically, and economically powerful. If Africa is strong, then even for a "lazy thinker," racism becomes illogical.
However, strength alone isn't enough. It must be combined with **Soft Power**—exporting culture like Japan, South Korea, and the USA do. You cannot think a people are inferior if you are using their languages, watching their shows, reading their books, or using their inventions on a wide scale.
What do you guys think?
#local
source
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