A map hanging in the middle of a classroom looks flat and universal — until you notice Europe swelling in the center, while Africa shrinks at the bottom. This is due to a cultural phenomenon known as Eurocentricism. Eurocentricism is the act of focusing on European culture or history at the expense of the exclusion of a wider view of the world, implicitly regarding European culture as preeminent.
According to Diaspora Studies, “Eurocentrism posits that Europe is the origin of crucial developments like democracy, sovereignty, and human rights, aspects of society that constitute a modern, developed state within Eurocentric ideology.”
When Africa is brought up, why is it that all that comes to mind is a poverty-stricken, disease-ridden, crime-infested continent? Why can’t it be influential and advanced like Europe? Poverty does exist in Africa, but not all over the continent. Africa’s countries are not all fighting senseless wars, dying of poverty and AIDS, unable to speak for themselves, and waiting to be saved by some kind, well-meaning foreigner either.
Africa is suffering from this European bias that is being implemented; if every country thinks that Africa is a disease-infested and dirt-poor continent, who would trade with it? Trade is crucial for economic development, and Africa represents only 2.8% of world trade. Africa contains the world’s richest natural resources and six of the world’s 12 fastest-growing economies. In fact, the misconception of Europe’s immense wealth is derived from the fact that Europeans stole the majority of their precious gems and metals from Africa when they colonized it.
Africa’s history has been defined and told from the perspective of the West, creating a clear bias in the way the world views the continent. According to CCCB Lab, “the Western narrative concerning Africa has focused on a historical vision of a ‘needy’ continent, rather than on Africa’s contributions to the history of humanity.”
European countries have altered our view of Africa by making themselves the global “standard” of an “organized” society. European countries portray themselves as clean, organized, and prosperous, while other countries — or continents in this case — that are any less are portrayed as crime-ridden, disease-stricken, and underdeveloped locations.
Another notable fact is that Africa can fit Russia, the United States, and roughly a third of Europe and still have leftover space. Many may be unaware of this fact as a result of the fact that Africa has been shrunk down on maps to inaccurately depict its size in comparison to Europe.
According to CNN, “Our world map is wildly misleading. It’s all down to the European cartographer Geert de Kremer, better known as Mercator, and his 16th century map projection — a common template for world maps today — which distorts the size of countries.”
Eastside interviewed the African American studies teacher, Mrs. Rogers, regarding her thoughts on Eurocentrism and how it is affecting our everyday society.
Q: In what ways has European colonization shaped the way Africa is portrayed in history books?
A: Well I think that the way Eurocentrism has been operationalized in our study of Africa or the African continent is that Africa is seen [as] lesser than, less important, … and when we continue to use the 16th century projection created by Mercator, in which Africa appears diminutive in size, … we think of [Africa] as unimportant, and I think that projection has promoted the idea that the African continent is not as important or as interesting.
Q: What are some common stereotypes about Africa that come from Eurocentric perspectives?
A: Some common stereotypes about Africa is that [it] is all war-torn. … [That] they are all impoverished [is another stereotype], and with Africa having the image of there being no growth in technology, what suffers is industry. We have to seek the information [ourselves], but stay on long enough to find out what’s going on in Africa. You [must] be intentional about seeking the information.
Q: How do school curriculums reflect Eurocentric views of Africa?
A: If we hadn’t created an African American Studies program, and made it mandatory at the high school level, students would have very little access to learning about the African continent. You might get a little in middle school, but even that’s minimal. In World Civilizations, Africa often only comes up in the context of South Africa — Mali and Ghana — a small slice of [African] history. But Africa is the widest continent in the world, and you could practically count on one hand how many times it’s discussed in a typical curriculum. Meanwhile, European history, and American history are taught extensively. We go deep into Europe’s revolutions and world events.
Q: What are some ways African scholars, artists, and communities are challenging Eurocentric views?
A: African music; people are listening to African musicians who are now in the top 40 now that world music is becoming more popular, and then they’re making their voices heard in the world. When you turn on Netflix there are several shows in the past years [that] have had an African focus. What I’m seeing is how Africa and Africans are trying to change perceptions of who they are, and [it’s] just [by] giving us greater access to African stories, and in a very non-threatening way [by] just turning on the television. … So I think more African influence, more African stories, and more African culture are being communicated and shared with the world through technology.”