European Colonization and African American Development free essay sample

Through tactics of indirect and direct control performed by the Europeans, land was seized in the midst of turmoil between the opposing parties as imperialism was established in the continent of profitable resources. As a significant and major impairment in the development of African society, colonialism served as a subversive awakening that introduced selfish motives though the captivity of others. By implying acts of capitalism for substantial financial growth and territorial acquisition, nation building was attempted by the Europeans, but inevitably lead to the rise of African independence. Being that imperialism was thought to have initially positive motives, one can properly conclude that the puppetry of African Americans was a result of false information that they were given. Europeans were viewed as saviors who were supposed to bring salvation to Africans, while curing diseases and spreading beneficial civilization. Instead, they conquered and established various nations through colonialism and proceeded with methods of mental brainwashing as an aid in their plight for economic expansion. As depicted in the film The Magnificent African Cake, Africans tried to resist colonialism through peace offerings by free usage of religion, but in response had their leader exiled for the suggestion. Europeans always triumphed in rebellions because they had stronger weapons, leaving weaker tribes conquered and forced to abide by their rulings. Africans were tricked into labor in order to live a lifestyle of financial comfort through taxation by the foreigners, because in order to earn money to pay for the taxes, they had to work for the debt that they owed. Colonization can thus be viewed as a bridgehead in a campaign to civilize barbarism, from which there may emerge at any moment the negation of civilization (Cesaire, 40). Serving as the umbrella term for colonialism and capitalism, imperialism is the name that is given for foreign control over a people’s territory and resources. By implementing a system of free enterprise and colonial policies on cash crops, Africans were being cheated though a method that only Europeans could benefit from. Colonial policies were placed on cash crops, causing reliability to be upon a single staple product that was to be produced by each established colony. The strategies were effective, yet detrimental to the land that they were being grown on because the continual harvesting led to the depletion of soil. From the actions displayed and enacted by the British and French leaders, the conclusion can be drawn that modern imperialism and modern industrialism are one in the same system, and a root and branch of the same tree (DuBois, 2). Although imperialism focuses on ruling over foreign territories, industrialism pinpoints an economic system built on forming industries, while either failing a financial system or taking advantage of the needs of people. Both methods had an equal impact on African society and worked simultaneously with one another to the benefit of the colonizers, but still left the colonized as subjects of mandatory rulings made with a life of suffering or death from disobedience ultimatum. Capitalists needed cheap labor, markets, and raw materials in order to make a successful profit, and through their manipulative manner of executing plans for monetary acquisition, they achieved their goal by acting as African puppet masters. The thingification of indigenous African people equates to European colonization in a way that inevitably works to the disadvantage of the oppressor’s victims. Despite the difference between French and British colonialism, the impact on blacks remained the same, and is clearly displayed through the gradual assimilation with each foreign group. Their actions reinforced slavery in a new light of mental captivity, which was the very thing that Europeans sought out to destroy as redeemers of the new land. Africans were not allowed to maintain any connection to their original cultures at all, and were even placed in positions as elite French leaders to represent examples of what they could one day potentially become. Black slavery, ingrained racial prejudice against blacks, and, after its partition by European powers, the necessity to rid Africa of colonial rule and exploitation, are all factors of what eventually provided for the stimulus o the pan-African idea and action (Lynch, 32). This new wave of liberation is what motivated blacks to make a change for the better, and sought to unite separated Africans in the struggle for freedom. Africa for Africans, as this philosophy came to be known, called for an end to decolonization, and a start to the emergence of hidden voices that would no longer be silenced. Influential leaders such as Marcus Garvey and W. E. B Dubois exemplified conflicting, but universal views about the solution to black rebellion and unification, which all led back to pan-Africanism and uprising from the bondage of colonialism. Ideas that were spread stated that the types in our race should not be blamable to our generation, but to the abuse and advantage of us taken in the past (Garvey, 57). As a final ending result, the belittling of African Americans worked to the advantage of Europeans during the imperialistic rulings, but could not stop them from becoming triumphant in developing a mindset and movement of their own that allowed the emergence of free-thinking, strong minded black individuals.