The Scramble for Africa in the late 1880s was as a result of an economic triggering. Europeans were looking into expanding their markets and becoming wealthy which largely came from the effect of the Industrial Revolution. Therefore it can be said that economic weaknesses were the main driving force towards the partition of Africa. This happening leads to the point of view that Africa has been drained or left in poverty but according to the “A Hopeful Continent by the Economist, readers come to know that Africa has indeed had a lot of socio-economic developments ranging from education to infrastructure and technological advances.
The late 1940s and early 1950s were the peak years of nationalism and political activism activities in Africa. This especially rose due to the famous Atlantic Charter declared on the 14th of August in 1941. This would essentially trigger the peoples of the various colonies which mostly belonged to the British, to take quick action. This includes movements like the Positive Action in 1950 in Ghana which was actually inspired by Gandhi’s non-violent movement as well as the Mau Mau uprising of Kenya which gave the British some self-realization that the Kenyans needed self-rule.
The article by Jemima Pierre, “Africa/African” gives useful insight as to the origin of the term “blackness” of Africans by speaking on the topic of Ebola. It simply showed the hopelessness of Africa/ Africans because ultimately, white doctors were needed for their treatment and this would essentially place the white man as the superior just because he is needed. This shows an aspect of Social Darwinism as the white would think or thought that they are centrally the ones who should lead and take control of the world. This can be traced back to the reasons or strategic motivations behind the colonization of Africa in terms of Christianity, Civilization and Commerce.