African Independence: How Africa Shapes the World - 28:12
written by building bridges radio
at Tuesday, November 3, 2015
African Independence: How Africa Shapes the World
with Tukufu Zuberi, Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations and
with Tukufu Zuberi, Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations and
professor of sociology
and Africana studies at the University of
Pennsylvania. He writes
and speaks widely about race, both in
the U.S. and
internationally. He is a host on the hit PBS series
History
Detectives.
Tukufu Zuberi’s frames decolonization and formal sovereignty as both an era and a sensibility, and defines what ‘African independence’ actually means for the continent and the world as a whole. He documents the decisive role played by African soldiers in WWII and argues that the war's savagery exposed 'the myth of civilized Europe and barbaric Africa. Though the Allied victory was 'forged with considerable African sacrifice,' much of the continent remained in European imperial hands. However, African participation in the defeat of the Axis powers rekindled massive anti-colonial aspirations, resulting in a series of uprisings and growing international support for decolonization. Regrettably, the Cold War derailed national independence movements and the continent again became 'locked in a death grip' by brutal military dictatorships supported by either the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. In this engaging and bold analysis of African independence, Zuberi critiques the failure of U.S. humanitarian policies toward Africa and Africa’s current partnerships with countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He reveals the contradictions that continue to obstruct aspirations for African liberation. Indeed, the evidence presented shows that Africa is ‘once again locked n a death grip’ of post-colonial and post-independence manipulations, nevertheless, his story of the making of modern Africa, constitutes an impassioned plea to recognize the continent for more han the trouble it has endured.
Tukufu Zuberi’s frames decolonization and formal sovereignty as both an era and a sensibility, and defines what ‘African independence’ actually means for the continent and the world as a whole. He documents the decisive role played by African soldiers in WWII and argues that the war's savagery exposed 'the myth of civilized Europe and barbaric Africa. Though the Allied victory was 'forged with considerable African sacrifice,' much of the continent remained in European imperial hands. However, African participation in the defeat of the Axis powers rekindled massive anti-colonial aspirations, resulting in a series of uprisings and growing international support for decolonization. Regrettably, the Cold War derailed national independence movements and the continent again became 'locked in a death grip' by brutal military dictatorships supported by either the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. In this engaging and bold analysis of African independence, Zuberi critiques the failure of U.S. humanitarian policies toward Africa and Africa’s current partnerships with countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He reveals the contradictions that continue to obstruct aspirations for African liberation. Indeed, the evidence presented shows that Africa is ‘once again locked n a death grip’ of post-colonial and post-independence manipulations, nevertheless, his story of the making of modern Africa, constitutes an impassioned plea to recognize the continent for more han the trouble it has endured.
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