What Would You Do?

My departure date is fast approaching and, my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go,
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake...
Errr... Ok well the bags are packed and I've already got the vivid dreams and insomnia from my malaria medication, so I guess I'm as ready to go as I'll ever be. I'm anxious (possibly another side-effect of the drug) and excited to just go and get started. This extended break has been too long!

Still, I'm hesitant. My experience this past summer in Tamale, Ghana left me a little jaded as far as living abroad. I know this a completely different country, city and organization, but Ghana is my only other experience of being abroad an extended amount of time. I never again want to be so desperate to go home that I miss out on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I don't want to be relieved when I get malaria and nearly starve to death because I have an excuse to sleep all day.

Overall, Ghana was amazing. (Especially Khalfani and Erica!)


We were, um... completely professional the whole time...

Two months in Ghana honestly changed so much of how I view the world. I do not regret going. I can say all that and still recognize that I did not use my time there to its full potential. I don't want to make that same mistake in Uganda. I chose this country to push myself out of my comfort zone and it would be a waste to not embrace that.

I have my ideas about what I would like to learn, observe and experience in Uganda, but I'd like a little perspective. So now I'm going ask for some audience participation. I would like this blog to be interactive, so hopefully this can kindle discussions to be continued.

What would you do if you were in Uganda?
Observe mountain gorillas? See the source of the great Nile? Investigate the issues surrounding homosexuality? (that's a fun one)

I doubt that everyone who reads this blog will get the chance to go to Uganda. I'm writing this so that more people will feel like they have. Try to think of something you would like to hear about.

Weefeko - "look after yourself"

"Unhappy Africa"

Osiiby-otyanno (Good Afternoon/Evening)

I would like to share a very interesting piece of classic literature. The following excerpt comes from the preface of Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published in 1852. I have not finished the novel yet, but I think the preface alone exemplifies a peculiar view of Africa and it's former/current inhabitants which is far from outdated.

"Unhappy Africa is at last remembered; Africa, who began the race of civilization and human progress in the dim, gray dawn of early time, but who, for centuries, has lain bound and bleeding at the foot of civilized and Christianized humanity, imploring compassion in vain.

But the heart of the dominant race, who have been her conquerors, her hard masters, has at length been turned towards her in mercy; and it has been seen how far nobler it is in nations to protect the feeble than to oppress them. Thanks be to God, the world has at length outlived the slave-trade!
...
When an enlightened and Christianized community shall have, on the shores of Africa, laws, language, and literature, drawn from among us, may then the scenes from the house of bondage be to them like the remembrance of Egypt to the Israelite,—a motive of thankfulness to Him who hath redeemed them!"

Stowe's novel was and still is incredibly controversial. From my limited understanding, (as I have yet to finish the novel), Uncle Tom's Cabin was initially controversial because of its condemnation of slavery. Today, it is criticized for its characterization of American slaves or African Americans as poor, piteous, and helpless children. It is hard for the progressive not to criticize such a view in this day-in-age...or is it?

What I find of particular interest for this blog is Stowe’s view of the African homeland, “bound and bleeding at the foot of civilized and Christianized humanity, imploring compassion in vain.” I cannot help but draw parallels to today’s view of Africa: a continent drenched in poverty, disease, corruption, and genocide. The ills of Africa are deeply engrained in the west’s guilty conscience. We live in such abundance, such perfect democracy, is it not the ‘White Man’s Burden’ to set things right? After all, we did start this whole corruption and repression thing in that part of the world.

It is this perspective, set forth by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which prevails in the modern view of Africa and I think is hauntingly similar to the current, white perspective of blacks in America. And this is what I am so endlessly fascinated by: the self-aggrandizing portrait of the white savior come to save the Africans from themselves both across the globe and in the inner-cities of America. How is this perpetuated in Western/American society? How is the received by African society? How is this perpetuated in African society?

Of course each one of these questions holds hundreds of approaches and millions of perspectives. But hey, that’s what grad-school is for, right?

Stay tuned for more.
Weeraba


Kipling's White Man amidst his burden? (A little harsh, perhaps, but you get the idea)

Pictures found at:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/african-american-art/uncle-tom-cabin-topsy.htm
http://stevecummins.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/why-we-should-show-bono-more-love/
Respectively