The Curious Case of a White Washed History & The Generalization of African Culture

Close your eyes, and picture French culture and cuisine: the baguettes line the shelves, and Laduree lies around the corner. Try to imagine German culture: the foods, the Bavarian customs, and the Lederhosen. Finally, try to see British culture, the Queen, and the popular telephone booths. Although Britain is an island, Germany and France share a border, and all three countries were members of the European Union before June 23, 2016. Despite being so close in proximity, three distinct cultures emerge–all represented in history books and timelines. One would not confuse the French Revolution with the Queen of England or Prussia with the Magna Carta.

     While European states have clear cultural divides, such cannot be said for other continents. Many can tell the difference between French, Swiss, or German culture, but could the same person tell the difference between Tanzanian and Kenyan culture? Unfortunately, the ignorance does not stop there.

     Mass media and history continue to force a generalized notion of Africa onto citizens of western nations, whitewashing much of African history and culture. In Jennifer Lopez’s “Get On The Floor featuring Pitbull” she sings “Brazil, Morocco, London to Ibiza, Straight to LA, New York, Vegas to Africa,” listing Africa among other cities and countries, not as a continent. Notice how Jennifer Lopez does not sing “America,” instead of “LA, New York, Vegas” or “England” or “London.” A media success such as Jennifer Lopez could not find a single city to rhyme with Ibiza and substituted Africa instead. By placing Africa in context with other cities in countries, she diminished all sovereign states in Africa to one single cultural identity. Never have I heard someone say, “North American Culture,” but continually, westerners speak on “African Culture,” taking stereotypes seen in the media and expanding them to encompass the second largest continent in population. I hope I am not the first one to inform you, Jennifer, but Africa, is not a city or a country.

     The whitewashing of history does not stop there. History books focus specifically on Caucasian heritage and European empires, removing African Empires. Let’s start with the Chinese, Prussian, Roman, and Axum Empires. The first three sound familiar, but the last does not come up often in history. Or the Mali Empire, with Mansu Musa at the helm, controlling more land than any other European Empire at the time. Or what about the “Dark Ages,” from 500-1000 A.D., where different states in Europe struggled to move forward due to frequent plagues and war? The so-called “dark ages” seemed to cast their shadow over the world. During this same period, Africa and the Middle East flourished, producing art, innovation, and culture, beginning a renaissance. As the Christian Empire and Germanic Empire failed to provide culture, historians assumed that other empires remained at a standstill. Such was not the case. At the same time as the dark ages, the Islamic world produced the concept of algebra, translating their texts into Latin and Greek from Arabic for European allies.

     White historians continue to exercise their bias over history, their skewed interpretations arise and expand influence. Historians select works to favor their own cultures and assume that when European culture fails to advance, other cultures must also fall by the wayside. When such histories are not featured, we begin to see merge the borders of nations in Africa their heritage becomes a single story of conquest and the waiting for European Colonization.

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/6-reasons-the-dark-ages-werent-so-dark

http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/12/05/7-midieval-african-kingdoms/2/

https://genius.com/Jennifer-lopez-on-the-floor-lyrics

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2012/08/31/whitewashing-history/