A reflection on the historical relationship between Africa and Africans on the one hand, and Europeans on the other. Africa has long been associated with concepts such as darkness, blackness, evil and strangeness, with its inhabitants subhuman and thus ripe both for exploitation and ‘bringing to the light’. This historical review will summarise evidence for the profoundly racist understandings of Africa which have informed attitudes and actions and led to such egregious ‘events’ as the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism, and the current exploitation of Africa’s mineral wealth. Africa has in fact given us much, often on very unequal terms.
Professor Gary Craig is Professor of Social Justice and Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is a Trustee of the TutuFoundationUK which promotes the work of the late Archbishop through the philosophy of Ubuntu.
This event is part of the Life & Learning programme in a series accompanying the Strangers exhibition.
If you are unable to purchase your ticket via the website, please email library@herefordcathedral.org or call 01432 374 225/6