This is a serious question for all thinking Blacks.

It needs to stop, period!

There is currently an advert running on sky about Ross Kemp going to Nigeria, "the dark heart of piracy".

[list]
[li]Last year, the BBC news website had the apartheid flag on its Africa front page. It was up there for a couple of weeks despite complaints being made. This same BBC would be up in arms if the swastika was on a rival’s front page.
[/li]
[li]We have since left the period that started with slavery and ended with colonialism and apartheid, why do we still have these sorts of phrases and actions emanating from agencies like Sky and the BBC?
[/li][li]On the Discovery channel, there are several openly racist programmes, the worst being one called "Congo". In this programme, which was mainly about gorilla’s; the use of phrases like "deepest, darkest Africa" are so frequent that you wonder how it could have made it through censors.[/li]

[/list]

Why do we allow these things go on?

The time has sincerely passed when we could be referred to as monkeys or subhuman. This is whether those derogatory references are direct or implied.
What is the best course of action to take? Is class action the way forward or do we set up counter websites? Please comment.

not saying the term isnt racist, but I think it does describe us to some extent.

The heart of Africa ie the Congo, has never had peace and also has a reputation for making a cynic out of even the most incurable optimist. Though that experience isnt limited to Congo alone and neither am I saying foreign powers havent had a hand in making it that way. Also, Rwanda/Burundi would be part of the geographical Congo region but for colonial redrawing of the boundaries.

However, the root problems still begin and end with us Africans, imo.

But, those words shouldnt be PC terms- agreed. Everywhere has its own wickedness.

Thanks tpiah.

But how is it the fault of Africans that press agencies are racist to us?

I have my own complaints about the BBC but at the end of the day fighting them tooth and nail will not improve Nigeria or any other African country. Is the BBC racist in its portrayal of Africa, undoubtedly, is it policy? Hard to tell. The continent of Africa garners no respect in the world. Going after racists rather than fixing our own continent first seems like an assbackwards way of doing things.

Beaf:

Thanks tpiah.

But how is it the fault of Africans that press agencies are racist to us?

we're also racist to each other. People arent blind and they can see that.

besides, there are Africans working at BBC. I wouldnt be surprised if they personally write or vet many of the stories.

Nairaland alone can supply Nigerians who will say worse things about Nigeria and Africa than what you've read so far.

tpiah:




we're also racist to each other. People arent blind and they can see that.

besides, there are Africans working at BBC. I wouldnt be surprised if they personally write or vet many of the stories.

Nairaland alone can supply Nigerians who will say worse things about Nigeria and Africa than what you've read so far.

Do I hear despondence?

The confidence to stand up and be counted is the pillar to development that will cure all of the negative feelings you rightly say some of us have about ourselves. Such feelings are usually accompanied by self doubt and the lack of inner muscle to struggle with life’s brick walls to our true potential (and boy! Are there huge brick walls for us to climb). How can we help one another up if we lack collective self belief?

In the same UK, "Irish jokes" are rightly considered racist. The institutions mentioned wouldn't dare put one on air. These sorts of joke (and the "deepest, darkest Africa" mentioned) are the result of some unrefined ones among the conquerors believing they are superior to the conquered. It is as crude as that.

The Northern Irish share a similar history of being colonised to us. So why are "Irish jokes" racist and "deepest, darkest Africa" ones are not? Is it perhaps that the Northern Irish would cry out loudly? Is it as you say that we somehow degrade ourselves or more that we lack the self confidence to stand up and be counted?

On the issue of some idiot blacks doing the worst badmouthing, they are in the minority. These clowns do not represent us; perhaps you’ve learnt that there where several British traitors during WWII, but does that say Britain fought on the side of the Nazi’s? Questions.

Confidence is the corner stone of development and success. We don’t have good leaders? They rise from our ranks; take care of the individual and leaders will emerge.

Beaf:



We don’t have good leaders? They rise from our ranks; take care of the individual and leaders will emerge.

cant argue with that.

And you're not hearing despondence- just a realistic view.

, Just saw the advert again. It didn't have the "dark heart" phrase this time.

Beaf:

, Just saw the advert again. It didn't have the "dark heart" phrase this time.

Good for them. Maybe people complained.

Not to say they wont do it again some other time though.