A review by zachcarter
White Malice: the CIA and the Covert Recolonization of Africa by Susan Williams

5.0

This is a treasure trove of CIA secrets and U.S. actions in Africa, focusing specifically on Ghana's independence in 1957 to Lumumba's assassination in 1961 and Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966. Equal parts inspiring and infuriating, I was blown away with just how much has come out about what the CIA was doing in the Congo, Ghana, and elsewhere. And yet, so many details are still completely missing or redacted, so this represents the minimum level of CIA involvement, everything from surveillance and spying to arming and assassinating.

I was very interested in the All African People's Conference and seeing the diversity of opinion presented by people like Fanon and Nkrumah, and to see Nkrumah's evolution to supporting Fanonian violence (and then Nyerere, too!). There are lessons to be learned here as well as movements and leaders to learn from.

Long live Lumumba! Long live Nkrumah!