This snapshot in time, of a starving Sudanese child with a vulture waiting for the child's last breath, was one of the first introductions to my Social Work Community Practice class over a month ago. The professor began to show us photos that changed the world. I guess he was trying to inspire us to take action, be motivated and organize for change as the photos had done themselves. This photo has sparked me to take action and create this blog. While this photo was meant to awaken the world to the effects of poverty and famine in Africa, it has provoked me to do the opposite. Something I have been pondering for years, to awaken the world to the other side of Africa.
The negative images and stereotypes of Africa are embedded in American society. How often do you see or hear about the 98 year old women who went to farm months before her death, the joy and love, daily life of people working, of bustling cities, cell phones pressed to every ear, the jam packed Internet cafes, and the unwritten rule to take care of one another? Rather one sees and hears about extreme poverty, underdevelopment, famine, enormous HIV/AIDS rates, corruption, and war. Do we hear about how people are surviving these in justices, stories of resiliency, and the assets of these families and communities?
Throughout the duration of this blog, I hope to breakdown some of the stereotypes that inundate Americans and on the flip side broaden the view of Americans and the United States to viewers around the globe.
The negative images and stereotypes of Africa are embedded in American society. How often do you see or hear about the 98 year old women who went to farm months before her death, the joy and love, daily life of people working, of bustling cities, cell phones pressed to every ear, the jam packed Internet cafes, and the unwritten rule to take care of one another? Rather one sees and hears about extreme poverty, underdevelopment, famine, enormous HIV/AIDS rates, corruption, and war. Do we hear about how people are surviving these in justices, stories of resiliency, and the assets of these families and communities?
Throughout the duration of this blog, I hope to breakdown some of the stereotypes that inundate Americans and on the flip side broaden the view of Americans and the United States to viewers around the globe.
*Surviving Child Vulture photo origanlly from photosthatchangedtheworld.com the site is currently down, this photo was taken from http://www.uniquescoop.com/2009/09/photos-that-changed-world.html
Hi Crystal,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments about those folks who are surviving injustice, famine, war, corruption, poverty, and disease. I appreciate your comments on resiliency.
Professor Yellow Bird
Your comments raised my spirits with a vision of the strengths to be found in Africa and the hope that accompanies that vision that anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your reminder about the other side of Africa; not all Africans live in poverty. Your wise words are a reminder to me that I should travel the globe and experience life for myself rather than to depend upon the media, to provide me with information about others.
ReplyDeleteKristin P.