Imperialism In Africa

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Pages: 3

Woodrow Wilson once said, “There can be no equality or opportunity if men and women and children be not shielded in their lives from the consequences of great industrial and social processes which they cannot alter, control, or singly cope with.” This quote ties in with the struggle of African men, women, and children who endure the problems left behind by imperialism which has affected Africa in the long-term politically, socially, and economically.
As stated by the textbook World Cultures: A Global Mosaic, “They introduced European legal systems that differed greatly from those of the people they ruled.” (p. 102) This shows that the Africans did not have a say in how the government was changed nor had they used that type of system before, giving them a disadvantage. Imperialism’s effect on African politics is a big part of the treatment of black people in Africa today. Even though imperialism is not used in Africa currently it’s political views of the past still have an impact on present-day politics. When imperialists overtook Africa, they stripped the African people of their rights, like voting, with multitudes of laws. This put the blacks in a lower place than white people politically. Now, although Africans have regained their political rights, it
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There are still white supremacist groups left over from Apartheid, who harass black Africans with false claims like a “white genocide”. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated. This is not the only social problem left in Africa by imperialism, many Africans remain unemployed and their work conditions are unfair. During the time leading up to imperialism many Africans laborers were treated cruelly, for instance, “ Working conditions were often unsafe. Employers mistreated their workers and kept wages very low.”, according to Brown University’s article Colonization and Independence in Africa. (p.