Thursday, March 19, 2009
Essay Six
Assignment 6
The Europe portrayed Africans as sub-human races that were uncultured and primitive. Europeans, however, viewed themselves as being more advanced than other cultures. The media would present stories that portrayed Africans as violent sexual predators through stories of alleged rape. Scientists also would reinforce these stereotypes using science that proved the European as superior and any other people as being less. Europeans used these portrayals of Africans to ensure the preservation of the purity of their culture, which also made certain that their power would be intact.
The occupation of the Rhineland by African soldiers elicited a strong response from Europeans. Newspaper articles written in various cities criticized the actions of France. White Europeans were civilized, while blacks characterized by “savagery and unbridled passions, appetites, and instincts” (Campt, 52). The articles further warned against miscegenation because Europeans would not simply become uncivilized, but their entire genetic stock would be polluted (Campt, 52). The end of WWI already threatened the status of Germany in Europe, but the use of African soldier further threatened Germany’s power. Germany felt that their position made them the nation that would preserve culture in Europe.
Eugenics and other sciences that were popular in Europe discouraged the intermingling of the different races and encouraged the purity of the white race. These scientists placed Europeans at the top of the racial hierarchy and Africans at the bottom. Africa look uncivilized and primitive compared to Europe (Stone, 95). Europeans from different political parties adhered to Eugenics, which shows how influential the science was (100). In Great Britain, the middle-class especially used eugenics to express their concerns about their own power. The middle-class used eugenics to further distinguish themselves from the lower-class (94). Eugenics was used to reinforce racial stereotypes in order to preserve Europe’s power and purity.
Overall, Europe felt that the presence of Africans would deteriorate the white race. The primitive aspects of the African race would cause the genetic stock of the Europeans to go down. Europeans felt that the stereotypes of the sexually aggressive African would pollute the white culture. Africans were the opposite of how Europeans viewed themselves, which caused fear of miscegenation. Newspapers and science reinforced these views and swayed public opinion against the introduction of foreigners into Europe. Boundaries needed to be established between the two races in order preserve the established racial hierarchy.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Essay 5
The partition of
African resistance also contributed to
The capabilities of Europe had to catch up with their ambitions before they could finish the partition of