How was the idea of Africa created in American culture?

How was the idea of Africa created in American culture? Ifé Oguntokun

The idea of Africa created by a multitude of means, which vary depending on the period in question • In order to create an image of what is “Africa” there are many instances where ideas are made through images of “Africans”

Early ideas of Africa in American culture were heavily influenced by the creation of images in the metropole, Britain • The earliest sources about Africa had come from Arab traders – idea of the Moor • Africans have lived in Britain in some capacity since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I

The first people to formulate a picture of Africa for Europeans and by Europeans was through missionaries and philosophers. • Traders and travellers had not made concrete connection between culture and race, less of an ulterior motive • Renaissance changed ideas

A number of enslaved and free black people in Britain and the colonies identifying with Africa. • Talk about Africa in their literary work was in relation more to them existing as an ‘other’ as opposed to them identifying themselves as Africans.

The ideas of the Church and how they saw Africa as a place devoid of the word of God. • Land also needed to be civilised, equated to the same thing • Number of black preachers saw Africa as a mission target

Sierra Leone and Liberia were the first manifestations of a real idea that Africa was a homeland that could be returned to • For those that decided to go, they viewed Africa as a place of opportunity, in which the next generation would be able to find a better life

Explorers of late 19th Century. As scramble for Africa began, the image of Africa was once again portrayed as that of an uncivilised place in need of western countries to control and civilise them – Henry • White Man’s Burden poem sent to Teddy Roosevelt who agreed with the idea that Africa was a land full of children that needed to be controlled • Roosevelt and New Frontier

Scientific knowledge – the use of science to justify actions. • Social Darwinism, now also called Social Evolutionism. • William Graham Spencer; people not created equal • Logic of evolutionism was that race and culture were one, with implication that white race was superior • Freud and idea that simplistic mentality of Africans pointed to more basic ideas of human mentalities

The image of Africa coming into the 20th Century was taken on more by black people in the United States • In reaction to racism, the Eden-like idea of Africa as a homeland to return to takes greater significance • Back to Africa, Marcus Garvey, Stokely Carmichael • Pan – African Congress

More recent ideas of Africa as unexpolred land, full of wild animals etc • Idea that most of population still rural, still in abject poverty • Mad leaders, all corrupt and all in power through brutality • National Geographic and aid

Conclusion • The image of Africa has undergone changes over the Centuries • Changes mostly take place depending on the group projecting their image on the continent want and their designs • A number of African – Americans have created image in a response to oppression

How was the idea of Africa created in American culture?