By: Helene Cooper

Helene Cooper — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:56:39 +0000

This article is interesting but there are some basic errors of fact in here that undermine the argument the author makes. He says , incorrectly, for instance, that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was descended from African Americans who colonized Liberia; she was not, as chapter 1 of the book the author is writing about makes clear repeatedly. He also says most of the soldiers who raped and pillaged were drunk on amphetamines and palm wine. Some were, as the book makes clear, and many many were not. But I’m sure he can find another way to blame someone other than the rapists and genicidal maniacs for their actions. Because it’s always someone else’s fault, right?

It’s easy to blame the west for all the wars in Africa. But much of that culpability has to also lie at the feet of Africans ourselves. We have been blaming European colonialists for bad governance and corrupt despots and strongmen rule across the continent for 75 years. But it is the height of racism to posit, as this author seens to, that Africans are too simpleminded and poor and stupid to take responsibility for our own xenophobic genocides.

Comments on: Same Ol’ Same Ol’ Gun Violence.

By: Helene Cooper