The Role of European Imperialists

As humans, we attempt to justify all behaviors. An unruly child is capable of providing boundless explanations defending their actions. Sentenced criminals deduce innumerable personal allegations. Therefore, I submit to you that as humans, we create a reality that is accepting of conduct we wish to pursue.

In the minds of the imperialist Europeans, yes, they thought they were improving the lives of the "savage, uncivilized" African people. However, taking in to consider a modern mindset, it is clear that they were indeed destroying the economic potential and culture of the inhabitants of an entire continent. It is simply not of modern acceptance to force a culture upon the opposing multitudes of humankind.

One fine example of the immoral premise the common white man conceived of the African culture is exemplified in Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden". In his poem directed towards imperial Europe, he describes hordes of Africans as "...new caught, sullen peoples, half devil and half child". It is clear that the common conception of the masses is similar to that of satanic, oppressive beings.

Paul Leroy Beaulieu spoke of the native population accordingly. A French imperialist, he was quoted stating "A great part of the world is inhabited by barbarian tribes and savages" in 1891. It is clear that his purpose was to promote the derogative connotation of the African citizens.

Several African tribal chiefs convened to write the European Governments to express their sincere request to open the Niger River to trade. The tribal chiefs maintained that "It's very hard this is on us; in all the rivers the markets are secured to them and why should a difference be made for this my river?" in the letter entitled

Niger Trade. Here, the regional officials are clearly presenting the chilling reality of European urbanization.

Therefore, I conclude that no, in unscathed reality, the European imperialists were not successfully civilizing the African colonies. By going against their loosely organized, yet definitive culture, they created disarray that exists even today. Quite frankly, I surmise that more damage was done to a vibrant, yet unorganized society than can ever be repaired.

Sources:

Holy World History: The Human Journey ; Rheinhart And Winston Holt

Niall Ferguson, Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, Penguin Books, 2004, ISBN 0141007540

Simon C Smith, British Imperialism 1750-1970, Cambridge University Press, 1998, ISBN 052159930X