This little annotated image is a humorous contrast to the call to help an Africa that is portrayed as corrupt, miserable, or pitiful. Thanks to Amy H. for submitting it!
See also challenging stereotypes of African men, the “single story” of Africa, how not to write about Africa, and portraying poverty in Africa. Found at themetapicture.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 24
JusSayin — September 9, 2012
Elephants will be extinct by 2020.
Andres — September 10, 2012
"This little annotated image is a humorous contrast to the call to help an Africa that is portrayed as corrupt, miserable, or pitiful."
It may also have the negative consequence of trivializing actual charitable efforts that can save thousands of lives.
"I think the topic at hand is about the trend to dehumanize people of color, particularly African children of color, to portray them as a universally helpless people that can only be saved by the gracious help of upper middle class white Americans and Europeans and their causes."
What the hell? How do those efforts "dehumanize" African children of color? It seems to me that the lack of funding towards preventing diseases like malaria and HIV are a more serious threat to them than the marginal chance of being "dehumanized" through a charitable campaign that is only giving their plight a human face.
"Who cares, I don't eat elephants and don't care for ivory.Many species die off, what are we the nature police?"
This opinion represents the worst in humanity.
Sjcottrell — September 10, 2012
I have this reaction every time I hear "Do They Know It's Christmas":
"And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time" ***well, I know that some of Africa is tropical, so I wouldn't expect snow in those countries. But it's a big place, you know, a continent. Surely there is some snowfall somewhere! Mountain tops, at least, right?
"The greatest gift they'll get this year is life"
*** Yes, but isn't that true of all of us?"Where nothing ever grows"
*** Except, well, the rain forests and savanna grasslands and everything.
"No rain or rivers flow" ***Isn't the Nile, like the most famous river, ever? Cradle of Civilization and whatnot. Plus, again, rain forests.
"Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"
*** I'm sure that at least the Christians are aware. Thankfully, it's not tricky, unlike Easter.
Kelly H — September 11, 2012
I have to admit, when I was waiting for the pic to finish loading (slow internets) I expected the end to be a positive or neutral statistic -- like "someone buys a house", "27 games of cricket begin" or something.