Idea that Stuck!

Question #5: There were many comparisons made between the Belgian colonizers in the Congo and the Nazis in Auschwitz. What are the similarities and differences between the two events?

The idea that monsters really do exist. The Europeans would justify what they were doing by saying the Congolese were uncivilized and sub-human so they deserved it or it did not matter what they did to them. The Nazis vs. The Force Publique Soldiers. The Nazis considered the Jews sub-human and they were considered that way because of they were Jewish. The Europeans were the same way with the Africans. They just felt they were uncivilized and needed enlightenment.

Pg. 33-60 KLG reading #2. Quotes

Leopold:

"But there was something fox-like about the manner in which this constitutional monarch of a small, increasingly democratic country became the totalitarian ruler of a vast empire on another continent"(34).
-This quote is foreshadowing of King Leopolds empire in the Congo and in what manners he rules it.

"Stanley's journey solved another geographical mystery...the Congo begins and ends below the equator, but the top part of its great half-circle lies above the equator"(53).
-This shows that Stanley not only was completely engulfed in exploring Africa, but he also was dedicated to bringing back his findings to prove he was not as illigitiate as his birth.

Challenge/Affirm
"At last his long-dream-of production could reach the stage, and Stanley would be its star"(57).
-I would challenge this statement from Hochschild because how, after Leopold's dreaming was he able to know that Stanley was the key to his success?

Pg. 1-32 KLG Reading #1

          During this reading I found that I was more drawn in during the parts of the reading where Hochschild discussed the gruesome parts of the slave trade. I think it is because I find it interesting how the Europeans thought that they were superior beings so they could just do whatever they wanted, not to mention how greedy they were. Also it did not help that the Africans as well wanted to new goods so they were willing to trade slaves to the Europeans to get these little trinkets and knick-knacks which were abundant in Europe. This particularity drew me in because I cannot even fathom the condition these slaves were in. How they were transported all the way across the Atlantic in chains! I read a statistic once that the conditions became so bad that at one point almost a third of every slave convoy died before reaching port. These slaves were literally treated like objects! I supposed this draws me in because I cannot believe that one human would treat another, unknown, foreign human in that way. If anything the Europeans should have been trying to please the Africans.


Discussion Questions:
Why was Affonso so eager to become more like the Europeans? Why did he feel like he needed to be more like them?

Why did the Europeans automatically think they were better than the Africans?