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posts about #whitemansburden more → White (Wo)Man's Burden: Madonna, Malawi, & Celebrity Activism
New York, 1:58 PM
Tue Dec 15
69 posts in the last 24 hours
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White (Wo)Man's Burden: Madonna, Malawi, & Celebrity Activism |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
10/29/09
It seems like there are very legitimate arguments about the effectiveness of aid vs. trade vs. whatever the other options are, but they should be directed more at international organizations and governments providing aid. If the long-term impact of the IMF isn't benefitting member countries, then that needs to be addressed by the myriad policy analysts whose job it is to affect prolonged and eventually self-sustaining positive change in the region. But if a celebrity thoughtfully and in good faith tries to help where she can and use her celebrity to draw attention to a humanitarian crisis being overlooked by the West, it seems obnoxious to castigate them because it won't cure AIDS or end drought.
The article complains about the West seeing all of Africa as one huge depressing humanitarian crisis, but the responses seem to ignore the fact that the writers for and readers of Arise are likely the privileged few, especially if we're talking in terms of the entire continent of Africa. Honestly, this is not unlike hearing the editor of Food & Wine complain that talking about the lack of fresh produce in inner cities sullies America's rightful reputation as a wellspring of culinary innovation. #madonna
10/29/09
10/29/09
The complaint isn't that she's pushing Kabbalah in her school, it's that she's building it at all, or at least that she's doing so publicly.
10/28/09
Madonna hasn't "shifted" anything anywhere - her focus has always been both. Us in the fan community were aware of her intentions to build this school, and others, since before David joined her family and before I Am Because We Are came out. As usual, the media is selectively paying attention to what M is up to. #madonna
10/28/09
A) Promoting herself
B) Kicking a man in the balls because she's an evil shrew
You shut your whore mouth!
(This was all said in sarcasm) #madonna
10/29/09
10/28/09
"All this 'philanthropy' normally comes with strings and conditions, and it can actively undermine those looking for long term solutions to a problem." And this: "After all, imagine how scary a strong capitalist Africa would be." You're right, if it means another Iran or Iraq--as it was under Saddam Hussein--or another country ravaged by genocide or indifference of the government to a population by criminals or paramilitary groups, then damn right it'd be scary. If that's the possibility then I am unmoved by the case against anything that supposedly makes Africa "pliant" to these "conditions."
But then, I'm ignorant--what praytell, might these evil "conditions" be of aid be?
Nobody is satisfied. Either the U.S. isn't doing enough and is asking too much of the citizenry and the nations of all-but-failed states to help meet certain points of infrastructure or political stability--potable water, basic medical care, the recognition of violence by the international community, meeting some threshold of rule of law, whatever--or else, we're is to blame for infantilizing Africa out of misplaced self-importance through aid and "conditions."
The complaint against adopting children instead of helping relieve poverty is legitimate--is that the same idea that those two other statements above point to?
WHAT conditions? Why the hell SHOULDN'T we condition aid, so long as those as conditions are legitimate and related to long-term, sustainable progress and proper utilization of resources--i.e., in favor of legal protections for women at girls? It's a step in the right direction, even if the public doesn't comply immediately.
Is the complaint that we're just using band-aids, or handing Africa a fish instead of teaching it to feed itself? What would THAT involve, unless you can blame the West for all of Africa's problems--the violence, the lack of infrastructure, the misuse of resources, government corruption or sponsoring of bloodshed?
What do critics want, for the West the West to regard Africa as an equal--thus to regard them as warily as we SHOULD look at countries with corrupt leadership or glaring human rights abuses (no, that isn't to say the U.S. has a spotless record either, but I won't say as some of our trading partners)?
I must be missing something. What insidious force lies behind Western relations with the underdeveloped world here? #madonna
10/28/09
First of all, the blame for a lot of Africa's problems lies in colonialism. From poorly drawn borders to economies that were created to benefit the colonial power rather than the state itself, there are a lot of forces at work to justify "western guilt".
Secondly, there are a myriad of "conditions" that can be attached to foreign aid. From the simple "support us in the UN" to "import our goods and allow our companies into your country, no matter the cost to your people and your economy", there is a lot one country can do to bully the other, contingent on aid.
It comes down to power, and to soverignty. And foreign aid takes away from both of those. #madonna
10/28/09
That is a fair complaint. #madonna
10/28/09
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10/28/09
That's just one example. There are many others. #madonna
10/28/09
Sigh...should have read the original article.... #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
I think for most celebs, money is the most useful thing they can give. I'd prefer that people with experience be working on the actual problem. #madonna
10/28/09
That being said, there are some very knowledgeable celebrities that really make a difference by testifying and telling their stories. #madonna
10/29/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
I think micro-changes are getting short changed in this post, but I don't think Africa is hopeless without the West. #madonna
10/28/09
Of course micro changes are important. In fact, the micro loan programs are becoming increasingly visible as people succeed and better their circumstances through them. But this post rather talks about the kind of images we're seeing as a result of the celebrity involvement and whether or not they're damaging in a larger sense. Also important to consider. #madonna
10/28/09
But I think there should be distinctions made when we talk about "aid." I see a school as an investment in education, in a generation of children for whom education offers promise. At least ideally. Teach a man to fish. To me this seems not like a "handout" but support with the power to fundamentally change lives. Am I being naive? #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/28/09
Also, local teachers teach (some foreign teachers as well) and there is no agenda.
:) #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
And a question about labeling this "the White Man's Burden", is this an all inclusive terms for charity coming from a Westerner? Is charity from the African American celebrities viewed in the same way? #madonna
10/28/09
I don't believe the western desire to help is rooted in the white, imperialistic view of post-colonial responsibility. At this point, I think it's the simple realization that they are lucky to have been born where they were. I don't think Africa is perceived to be a continent of beggars but one of such overwhelming complexity that it's hard to figure out where to start.
I commend people who do something for doing so knowing full well that they will be vilified either way. #madonna
10/28/09
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10/28/09
10/28/09
this is not a simple situation, and i don't have all the answers. but i don't think that dissing george clooney for bring attention to darfur is a reasonable use of anyone's time. #madonna
10/28/09
The US still owes 50 million for the creation of the African Union security force we promised to help create. All other European nations have chipped in... The security force is obviously a complex creation, but at the very least it will be providing protection to the humanitarian works in the Sudan.
Throw our support behind the ICC's warrants on Sudanese leaders responsible for the genocide. Help the UN develop teeth so that Security Council resolution aren't just pieces of paper.
Continue to explore the sanctions/ incentive program endorsed by the EU and Pres. Obama.
None of these actions are necessarily going to end the conflict, but it is worth the attempt. And I want to keep Darfur in the media as much as possible-- if for no other reason than it may encourage people to go online and donate a few bucks to help the aid organizations whose members are risking their lives to try and mitigate the horror and suffering in that region. #madonna
10/28/09
Aiding refugees and victims (while this should definitely be done, and increased), doesn't go near the root cause of the conflict, nor does it do anything to end it.
UN troops can't fire until they're fired upon. They are nearly useless.
I don't know how Darfur ends. Personally, I'd support a massive military intervention that completely destroys the perpetrators of genocide ..... then I look at Afghanistan and realize that we as a country suck at that. Darfur is heartbreaking, to be sure. Outside of aid, however, I don't know what "the world" can do.
Do people really write checks to WFP when Clooney shows up at a rally? Or do they feel good thinking that just by showing up, they're making a difference? #madonna
10/28/09
Aiding refugees and victims is an essential part of peacebuilding. In my mind, that action can't be separated from "root causes," whatever they are.
As to whether Clooney encourages people to support the WFP monetarily....who knows. He does draw attention to the issue, and that's important. You'll always have those right-wing blowhards who hate any celebrity that supports a liberal cause, but those aren't the kinds of people who would be likely to donate to the WFP, anyway.
Regarding rallies, I've always thought they do more for the people attending them than for anyone else. But people have to feel like they are making a difference, and sometimes there can be positive media coverage. #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
*Not to say that giving to charity is bad, but it is important to do your homework so you know exactly what and where your contribution is going. #madonna
10/28/09
In other news, I kind of love Matt Damon. #madonna
10/28/09
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10/28/09
10/28/09
All aid, loans, grants to African countries, businesses, or projects come with lots of strings attached. There are a just a lot more risks involved. I am curious as to your thoughts on the World Bank's suspension of the loan to Chad to build the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline in 2006 when Chad decided not to not adhere to the strings attached. I think you will find yourself in the odd position of agreeing with Wolfowitz. #madonna
10/28/09
I'm not familiar enough with the Chad situation to make a comment. #madonna
10/28/09
'Sure, a whole army of irate, eminent Jewish scholars and rabbis will quibble that the Kabbalah is in fact a centuries-old discipline of Judaism, one whose mysteries are so complex that Orthodox Jews may only begin contemplating them after years of dedicated study. In fact it's difficult to imagine a faith less suited to those fly-by-nights of the entertainment industry. Imagine those searchers' delight, then, when someone bowlderised it into a commercialised, non-denominational mysticism that even the star of 'Dude, Where's My Car?' can understand.'
10/28/09
10/28/09
Foreign aid - celebrities aside - is contentious as hell. A lot of development professionals have seen the failure of the past 40 years to substantially improve the standard of living in the global south, and are rethinking effective aid mechanisms. I don't think this means NGOs and foreign governments should stop giving aid, at all. I just think a massive restructuring of the decision-making process is desperately needed.
And to provide a bit of a counterpoint to Moyo's quote, there's a book called "Africa Works" that I've been reading for a class that puts forth, among other ideas, that African governments deliberately prey on Western colonial guilt to extract as much foreign aid as possible. (Note: I don't agree with this AT ALL, but its a theory)
This is an incredibly complicated topic, and I really don't know that celebrities help the matter at all. One school is great, Madonna, but the IMF isn't going to cancel Malawi's debt just because you've adopted some kids from there.
10/28/09
That said, I fully appreciate the point here about depictions of the continent. It is an excellent and important point. Though I wonder if the children receiving new books in Malawi care about the PR they're receiving in Massachusetts, the nature of the race dynamics are hard to miss. #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
In terms of corruption in Africa, I wonder where you draw the line between corruption and neopatrimonialism - which, in some cases, can be an effective system. Sort of.
I haven't read The Challenge for Africa, but I love Wangari Maathai, so I'll definitely pick that up - thanks! #madonna
10/28/09
I just thought that the theory is pretty damning and charged, and so I was curious to know who was putting it forward and what experiences that person was basing it on. I also feel like a person has a unique understanding of her own culture and nation that even the most educated and observant of outsiders can't always match it. #madonna
10/28/09
In terms of what celebrity activism does to the public international image of Africa as a begging bowl, I think the white savior-themed movies Hollywood, led by the celebrity activists, keeps making, are doing more damage than the charity works, which probably really differ one to another in terms of effectiveness. #madonna
10/28/09
"The No. 1 Woman's Detective Agency" is a good start. #madonna
10/28/09
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10/28/09
While the photos can raise money, frequently I am disgusted by how out of touch they are. My favorite was the B-list actor who said Sierra Leone was an awesome country, totally skipping over the charity that brought him there.
Another favorite was Ashton and Demi's anti-slavery video where Ashlee Simpson pledged to be a good mom and others pledged to stop using disposable water bottles. At the end of the video, I had no idea what Ashton and Demi were against- human trafficking maybe? slavery can mean a lot of things - but I knew specific celebs wanted praise for not being assholes. I would have been much more impressed if Ashton and Demi had announced they were personally funding a clinic, school, or food bank in an under served area.
I'm all for celebs raising money through personal donations and actual fundraisers, but I think charities vastly overestimate the help your average celeb can give. They're not all Angelina and Oprah. I've noticed people starting to thinking that working in international development means a lot of international travel, not actual work. #madonna
10/28/09
10/28/09
I do think that "it's awesome" is better from an anti-victimization standpoint, but some charity paid for that trip and wanted press. He could have said, "I visited an amazing school for child soldiers run by NGO XYZ in Sierra Leone. The whole organization was inspirational and I'm trying to raise funds for them to expand their work."
But he didn't even give them their damn plug! Its not like Americans are going to start vacationing in Sierra Leone any time soon. Its possible that he is just a bad interviewee, but I think its more likely he just doesn't get it. #madonna
10/28/09