The “Dark Continent” Ideology

The portrayal of Africa as a dark continent in the media and western literature perpetuate racist and colonial ideologies because oftentimes anything that is dark is synonymous with doom and gloom. The “Black plague” or the “Black Death” for example is the term that was used when Europe was ravaged by a bubonic plague pandemic in the 1347.” Black Friday” is another term that was used in regard to the death of Christ and somehow it’s considered a “Good Friday” around Easter. Being “Blacklisted” by the world bank is another term that is used as well. Even the color of the man on the neighborhood watch sign is Black and this is rooted in anti blackness as defined by Orlando Patterson. The African studies readings challenge these notions and brands them as single stories told through Eurocentric lens. They pushback against the narrative that Africa is just a Safari of Darkness riddled with voodoo practitioners, monsters and gold.