Review of Manufacturing Hate How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media
Posted: 18 Jan 2022, 03:26
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Manufacturing Hate How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media" by Milton Allimadi.]
The media can shape how people perceive and understand the world around them. It (the media) may influence opinions and views depending on what and how they choose to broadcast. This is the same case with the century-long demonization of Africans and people of African descent that made many people in the 'west' close their eyes to the atrocities and crude racism and discrimination met upon Africans, as Milton Allimadi describes in Manufacturing Hate: How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media.
Allimadi says that the persistent and discriminatory reporting of Africa—from the time the explorers first visited the continent, to the brutal colonization of Africa which, in essence, was plundering the African land and resources, and even the post-colonial Africa—leaned towards serving the West's selfish interests. During the colonial period, Allimadi asserts, the reportage served to demean Africans to give an excuse for the unjust exploitation of their land and wealth and, during the post-colonial period, to justify and cover up the barbarity Africans received in the hands of their colonial masters.
The most notable feature of this book is how extensive it is. The author digs deep into history to unravel the rot in how Africa was painted. He explains how the so-called explorers misled the whole world into believing Africans were cannibals and more of animals than human beings. They created myths that Africans had deep-rooted witchcraft, cannibalism, and savagery among other uncivilized practices. With that as a blueprint, the media continued the narrative, always associating them with backwardness, barbarism, savagery, and retrogress; this was to justify the need to 'civilize' Africans—known as 'the white man's burden'—while in reality, the real motive was to plunder their land and resources. In the post-colonial period, biased reporting was done to cover up and justify the subjugation and exploitation—by claiming that whatever happened should have happened for the good of the Africans (which is ironic and satirical).
The author lists several reporters and editors who had been constantly and actively demonizing Africans (like Freedman), some of who even wrote books for this purpose. He also, in equal measure, explains how some journalists tried to counter the racist propaganda with a more sober and realistic coverage of Africa, and who also criticized and pointed out the biased journalism.
While the book may sound overly critical, it is more honest, logical, rational, and bold. It bases its arguments on existing articles and letters gotten from the archives of the very media houses being put on the spot. A considerable percentage of the book is the author's inputs, but they are based on the topics being spoken about and facts. The author argues that this persistent dissemination of racist lies and propaganda is what has majorly led to the disintegration of various African states (like Namibia and Congo), and it is also the reason several Africans suffer from Inferiority Complex since they have been made to believe they are less human than the whites. He, however, agrees some of these problems are self-made problems. The tone in the book is overly bitter, but the author is careful not to let it cloud his analysis.
There's no negative thing to mention about the book. Furthermore, it has no errors and has been perfectly edited. The book is extensive, and even though it is critical and its tone rather resentful, it does not divert from reality. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I had an amazing reading experience due to its flow and simplicity in relaying information, too.
This book is recommended to those who would like to know more about how the media—specifically the western media—participated in the rampant promotion of racism and discrimination against Africans.
******
Manufacturing Hate How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The media can shape how people perceive and understand the world around them. It (the media) may influence opinions and views depending on what and how they choose to broadcast. This is the same case with the century-long demonization of Africans and people of African descent that made many people in the 'west' close their eyes to the atrocities and crude racism and discrimination met upon Africans, as Milton Allimadi describes in Manufacturing Hate: How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media.
Allimadi says that the persistent and discriminatory reporting of Africa—from the time the explorers first visited the continent, to the brutal colonization of Africa which, in essence, was plundering the African land and resources, and even the post-colonial Africa—leaned towards serving the West's selfish interests. During the colonial period, Allimadi asserts, the reportage served to demean Africans to give an excuse for the unjust exploitation of their land and wealth and, during the post-colonial period, to justify and cover up the barbarity Africans received in the hands of their colonial masters.
The most notable feature of this book is how extensive it is. The author digs deep into history to unravel the rot in how Africa was painted. He explains how the so-called explorers misled the whole world into believing Africans were cannibals and more of animals than human beings. They created myths that Africans had deep-rooted witchcraft, cannibalism, and savagery among other uncivilized practices. With that as a blueprint, the media continued the narrative, always associating them with backwardness, barbarism, savagery, and retrogress; this was to justify the need to 'civilize' Africans—known as 'the white man's burden'—while in reality, the real motive was to plunder their land and resources. In the post-colonial period, biased reporting was done to cover up and justify the subjugation and exploitation—by claiming that whatever happened should have happened for the good of the Africans (which is ironic and satirical).
The author lists several reporters and editors who had been constantly and actively demonizing Africans (like Freedman), some of who even wrote books for this purpose. He also, in equal measure, explains how some journalists tried to counter the racist propaganda with a more sober and realistic coverage of Africa, and who also criticized and pointed out the biased journalism.
While the book may sound overly critical, it is more honest, logical, rational, and bold. It bases its arguments on existing articles and letters gotten from the archives of the very media houses being put on the spot. A considerable percentage of the book is the author's inputs, but they are based on the topics being spoken about and facts. The author argues that this persistent dissemination of racist lies and propaganda is what has majorly led to the disintegration of various African states (like Namibia and Congo), and it is also the reason several Africans suffer from Inferiority Complex since they have been made to believe they are less human than the whites. He, however, agrees some of these problems are self-made problems. The tone in the book is overly bitter, but the author is careful not to let it cloud his analysis.
There's no negative thing to mention about the book. Furthermore, it has no errors and has been perfectly edited. The book is extensive, and even though it is critical and its tone rather resentful, it does not divert from reality. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I had an amazing reading experience due to its flow and simplicity in relaying information, too.
This book is recommended to those who would like to know more about how the media—specifically the western media—participated in the rampant promotion of racism and discrimination against Africans.
******
Manufacturing Hate How Africa Was Demonized In Western Media
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon