Africans have a far better chance of grabbing the attention of western academics, NGOs, & government institutions, if they’re crying famine, rape, genocide etc & pointing their finger on their fellow Africans. Black on Black crime is always marketable, whether it’s true or not. 1
There’s centuries old dystopian image of #Africa deeply seated in the minds of westerners. Any news that reinforces this enduring negative narrative is readily acceptable. That’s what makes countering #TPLF vilification campaign against Eritrea and Ethiopia an uphill battle. 2/6
For instance, it’s infinitely more easier for westerners to accept that “The Ethiopian government is deliberately starving its own people in the north,” than for them to believe the government is doing everything in its power to feed its own people and restore law and order. 3/6
Likewise, the notion that Eritrea is standing firm in solidarity with the Ethiopian government, because it deeply cares about the peace and stability of the Horn does not settle well in the intrinsically biased minds of Westerners. Africans cannot be that good. 4/6
I’m sure some of us have experienced this bias on a personal level. One time, I told my white American coworker that some African countries do make SUVs. She frowned, and gave me that look. I could have google proved my claim, but there was no point; She already took offense. 5/6
I guarantee, had I told her that my parents eat human flesh for dinner, I would’ve had a better chance of getting the conversation going. Maybe she would even have believed me. 6/6
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