Page 17 - issue 66 en
P. 17
ELITE
ELITE
The Nile, Egypt’s lifeblood, was at the We live in a world where visuals dominate
center of their worries, overshadowing our news consumption. Bombs falling in
the horror of a massacre happening to Gaza or tanks rolling into Ukraine make for
fellow Africans. Personally, I think it’s compelling television. In contrast, the
because most Egyptians don't even plight of a Congolese mother losing her
consider themselves as a part of Africa. child to malaria is hard to capture in a way
Africa is always portrayed in their that will go viral. Human suffering, when it
minds as a black populated continent, is quiet and far away, has a way of slipping
and us being physically different make through the cracks. The violence in places
it look like we're distinct and, I dare like Northern Mozambique or the Central
say, better. This underlying racism and African Republic isn’t less tragic; it’s just
the everlasting nationalist tale make it less visible and more complicated.
easy to homogenize the suffering of a We cannot let convenience dictate our
mass of black individuals and only care compassion. Every life has value, whether
about our interest and how their it’s lost to war in Ukraine or malnutrition in
suffering would hinder our daily life Congo. The challenge is making sure that
and national interests. the world pays attention, even when the
story is hard to tell.
17
