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savvylit's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
In this fascinating and factually dense history of the continent, Walter Rodney proves that the exploitation of Africa simultaneously stunted its development. Despite what racist, colonizer-created textbooks have taught many of us, Africa was not a land of savage chaos prior to the international slave trade. Many ancient peoples in Africa were in fact quite advanced artistically, agriculturally, socially, and/or all of the above. In fact, many of the civilizations in Africa were poised to develop into capitalism on their own. However, it was at this point that Western Europe - being more advanced in development - swooped in and absolutely destroyed any chance that African societies had at their own development. More specifically, consider how societies would be expected to further themselves when millions of able young people are stolen away to other lands for the purpose of enslavement.
The primary conclusion of this work is that Europe - and later the United States - could never have progressed if not for the continued oppression and devastation of the African continent. Rodney follows not only the contrasting developmental phases of both Africa & Europe but also "how those two combined in a single system -- that of capitalist imperialism." Colonial Africa was the product of Europe's imperialist desire to dominate the economy. It was also the result of Europe's self-serving racist thought that Africans were not able to rule themselves. "It was economics that determined that Europe should invest in Africa and control the continent's raw materials and labor. It was racism which confirmed the decision that the form of control should be direct colonial rule."
All in all, Rodney proves how capitalism is deeply intertwined with imperialism & exploitation. Genocide - both literal and cultural - is a product of capitalism. Capitalist advancement intrinsically requires systems of oppression and control.
The primary conclusion of this work is that Europe - and later the United States - could never have progressed if not for the continued oppression and devastation of the African continent. Rodney follows not only the contrasting developmental phases of both Africa & Europe but also "how those two combined in a single system -- that of capitalist imperialism." Colonial Africa was the product of Europe's imperialist desire to dominate the economy. It was also the result of Europe's self-serving racist thought that Africans were not able to rule themselves. "It was economics that determined that Europe should invest in Africa and control the continent's raw materials and labor. It was racism which confirmed the decision that the form of control should be direct colonial rule."
All in all, Rodney proves how capitalism is deeply intertwined with imperialism & exploitation. Genocide - both literal and cultural - is a product of capitalism. Capitalist advancement intrinsically requires systems of oppression and control.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Genocide, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Trafficking, War, Racism, and Violence
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