I have always enjoyed science fiction. The portrayal of what life could be like in the future, of other civilizations in far off galaxies and worlds, the various possible forms of extra-terrestrial life with their otherworld characteristics and personalities, all of this fascinates me to some extent. From t.v. shows such as Start Trek (the original series) and it’s various other spin-offs, Lost in Space, Logan’s Run, Battlestar Galactica to movies such as the Star Wars sagas, Blade Runner, the Alien(s) series, Total Recall, The 5th Element, 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1984, A Clockwork Orange, Planet of the Apes…. are just some of my favourites.
A couple weeks ago I watched an interesting 2-part science fiction docudrama on The Discovery Channel called “Race to Mars“. Set in the year 2030, it is the story of an international team of astro-scientists, made up of four men and two women, who are in a space race against China to be the first to discover life on the “Red Planet”. This international team is headed up by an American (of-course), with a Canadian, Russian, French, Spanish and Japanese crew members. Right from the onset, I was aware that there were no African/African-American/Black representation among the scientists, whether on the mission or at the space center on earth. I guess the Japanese scientist was the “token negro”, as he was the one killed off during the expedition. I found it a little troubling that we weren’t portrayed to be significant in any way…. in this future, where historic scientific discovery was being pursued and ultimately made. I was reminded of a joke I once heard:
“Why aren’t there any Native Americans in Star Trek: The Next Generation? Because they don’t plan to work in the future either.”
Although this so-called “joke” is not funny in any way, it does provide an invaluable truth. There is a saying that there is a “little truth” in every joke. The “invaluable truth” shown here is how Native Americans are perceived by those in the dominant eurocentric culture. In the same way, consciously or subconsciously, those who wrote, produced, casted and directed the film “Race to Mars”, did not see us as being relevant…. as making any positive contribution to the future (or even existing for that matter). In contrast, I had previous to this seen a film entitled “Children of Men”, which had a very bleak, extremely chaotic and pessimistic view of the future…. where we were very visible, numerous and prominent players within the storyline.
So I started to wonder why those who dream of what the future will be like, within the science fiction realm at least…. erase, minimize or demonize our existence within the vision of their future worlds? What is the basis of this contemporary mindset of the dominant eurocentric society, as seen time and time again…. and therefore perpetuated through their various educational, entertainment and media sources?
This week a report was released on a study by IANSA (International Action Network On Small Arms), Oxfam and Saferworld, which attempts to quantify the economic cost of armed conflicts on the African continent. The report entitled “Africa’s Missing Billions”, claims that “armed conflict costs Africa $18bn dollars per year, seriously derailing development” and “around $300bn since 1990 has been lost by Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda.”
The report does go on to emphasize that although the $300bn estimated economic cost from armed conflicts on the African continent is shocking, it is an under-estimate and it does not factor in the cost of human lives (women and children are the primary victims), misery, loss potential, loss opportunities, loss investments, loss of educational progress, and the negative effects on neighbouring countries due to the influx of refugees and political instability. Two of the many points the report discusses which I will highlight here are:
-
The $300bn in economic loss is equivalent to the international aid African countries received from major donor countries and it “could [have solved] the problems of HIV and AIDS in Africa, or it could [have addressed] Africa’s need in education, clean water and sanitation, and prevent tuberculosis and malaria.”
-
95% of Africa’s most commonly used conflict weapons came from outside of the continent, as well as the steady supply of ammunition.
As I read the report, I began to contemplate on some of the other unseen costs and asked myself: “How many future African scientific researchers have been killed who would have discovered the cure for HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and Ebola? How many future African doctors and nurses have been killed who would have brought relief to the sick by providing adequate care for their ailments? How many future African agricultural scientists have been killed who would have found a solution to the increasing desertification of the continent and boost food production to feed the people? How many future African political, social and economic scientists have been killed who would have made substantial contributions to the development of the continent’s resources, both material and human, which would benefit not only the continent but all humankind as a whole? How many future African teachers have been killed who would have inspired and managed the educational development of their students to be leaders in the field of science and other disciplines? How many future African astro-scientists have been killed who would have revolutionized space travel and exploration and make it possible to reach the impossible dream?”
As I read the report, I reflected how in “Race to Mars“, there came a critical point where the success of the mission could only be achieved if the opposing interests, the international team and the Chinese, put away their differences and worked together. They came to realize that for the greater good of all, for the accomplishment of something historic, that had the potential to change and benefit all humankind, they had to combine their efforts. I again asked myself: “What would we, as people of African descent, have accomplished already and in the future, if we worked together and weren’t so quick to demonize and/or kill each other due to national and tribal affiliations, religious differences, political beliefs, blocks, ‘hoods, and yes…. the color of our clothes and/or the handkerchiefs on our heads?”
So where do we go from here? Besides stating the variety of obvious solutions which we hear and spout ourselves, we need to first come to the realization(or remind ourselves) of an this undeniable fact: “ALL of us of African descent are tied together! Whatever happens to one of us anywhere in the world, affects and reflects on us all!” It is no coincidence, that along with what appears to be an increasing, coordinated and effective program to dehumanize, demonize, destabilize and depopulate the African continent…. there are similar agendas being pursued in Europe, North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Australia, against those of African descent…. by a variety of methods…. with varying degrees of success. Just like in the “joke” concerning Native Americans above, the “inconvenient truth” is that we are perceived as an unnecessary burden, a liability for the future…. and it would be better for those in the dominant eurocentic society…. if we were no longer around. The report sounded this warning:
“There is an urgent need to reduce the international supply of arms and ammunition to Africa. Otherwise the cost to African development – measured not just in dollars wasted but in lives shattered and opportunities squandered – will be immense.”
Stated simply: we as a people like the dinosaurs, will become extinct.
afrospear.wordpress.com 
Very thought provoking article. I love sci-fi also. I have often wondered what it would be like to go to other worlds and if it would be different. I don’t think so. Why? It’s like people moving out of their neighborhood (L.A. to Lancaster and Victorville) to other neighborhoods and not changing their mindset or the mindset of their children that they’re trying to help. Now some of these places are little more than mini- L.A.’s. It would be the same thing in space. I do agree with you in regard to getting ourselves together and unifying. I would love to hear your further thoughts on this.
Pingback: TV » The Race To Leave Us Behind
Very interesting article. Am curious to know what the true answer to these questions are:
“How many future African scientific researchers have been killed who would have discovered the cure for HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and Ebola? How many future African doctors and nurses have been killed who would have brought relief to the sick by providing adequate care for their ailments? How many future African agricultural scientists have been killed who would have found a solution to the increasing desertification of the continent and boost food production to feed the people? How many future African political, social and economic scientists have been killed who would have made substantial contributions to the development of the continent’s resources, both material and human, which would benefit not only the continent but all humankind as a whole?
Meanwhile, what are the rest of the cast (those African intellectuals) who survived and became the elite?
Andy, I like your analysis. I also love science fiction too.There is a possibility that the enemies have already predicted that in the future, most Blacks would have either died off, and the rest fully assimilated into them. If we do not wake up, and stop fooling ourselves that we are doing so well, our future as a people on this planet will be bleak indeed.
Excellent post, Asa. A free Africa is a threat as is a free African. An African who thinks for him or herself, who does things for the good of him or herself, or their people, is a threat to the European order. Servility is key. Since we aren’t compliant enough, we must die. Those of us who mammy them, play magical negro for them, can hang around a bit out of our utility.
The whole future trip – a white future with no color in sight – is rooted in their fear/contempt for us. That hate that they need us so desperately and wish that they didn’t. But, who will teach them the latest handshake, the latest slang if not us?!
As for the dire prospects for our people on the Continent: who is selling us those guns, what companies and what countries? I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to identify them. There’s a wonderful campaign idea. Expose the death merchants and do the math: how the so-called “humanitarian aid” that the West sends to Africa is counteracted by and only a cover for the real aid they seek for Africa; the instrumentality of control and death – the gun – so that Europe can continue its rape and profit.
Lubangakene,
Excellent commentary. You break things down to the most common and understandable denominator! I also like your idea to indentify: “who is selling us those guns, what companies and what countries?”
Peace.
Fact is, somebody is going to have to unite Black Africa. Can it be done? I hope so.
I have friends that are native Africans living in Ethiopia and Nigeria, that have lived in the U.S. and both agree uniting Africans in Africa will be tougher than uniting Blacks in the Western hemisphere.
The cold war proxy wars, US, Russia and Cuba, brought guns and ammunition, the earlier colonist sparked the rivalries between ethnic groups, and since they had selected the elite to serve their purpose and left mostly poor and uneducated; that stew created the situation we have in Africa today.
Pingback: WriteBlack » Blog Archive » Drive-by
I’ve never liked science-fiction, particularly because even at an early age, I could recognize the message – NO BLACK PEOPLE. And the message is NOT subtle..in the least.
There is still hope for the Africans. If we can create a Pan African movement, not only of intellectuals, but by Black people of all socio economic groups on the continent and troughout the Diaspora, then our future as a people on this planet is certain. We must work toward an awakening of the masses of Black people, to unite for our own good.
This movement must have at the forefront an agenda based on restoring respect and acceptance of our identity as Africans, and it must be structured with plans based on independent, sustainable, economic developement. I am tired of hearing on these Black blogs what the enemies think of us, and how many of us are sellout. We need to stop the masochism. Inadvertently, we think too much of the enemies, hence we are always taking off our vision of what we should be doing as a people. We also have given the enemies too much power over us.
Yesterday October18, I read an artucle in The NY Times that left me elated. The article was on a Black community in Colombia-San Basilio de Palenque. They are the descendants of runaway slaves, who had carved out a community far away from the Spaniards during the colonial period. The Palenqueros (people of Palenque)had conserved elements of the Congo language, mixed with Spanish. Their language is the only Creole Spanish spoken in Latin America.
But what really hit me was what one of them said. Mr. Salgado a Palenquero schoolteacher said: “Our ancestors survived capture in Africa, the passage by ship to Cartagena and were strong enough to escape and live on their own for centuries. We are the strongest of the strongest. No matter what happens, our language will live on with us”.
I believe this is the manner many of us should be speaking. The descendants of Africans in the Diaspora are all the strongest of the strongest. I do not believe that there is a people on this planet who could have endured what our people went through, and live on to leave descendants like us today. we just need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, roll up our sleeves and become active.
The word Palenque in Spanish is runaway haven for slaves. The Portuguese version is Quilombo.The English version is Maroon town.
The race to leave us behind began with the Portuguese in the 15th century when they made contact with Africa in their quest for gold and slaves. For them the wealth of the world was theirs for conquest, and The Spirit of The Conquistador has informed every action of the white race ever since. We, blacks, are left out long before there is to be travel to Mars. We are left out right here on Earth. We are definitely not included in The New World Order. The depopulation of Africa (particularly sub-Saharan Africa) is well underway. Notice the coountless wars, the AIDS epedemic, famine, politcal corruption, and poverty. (War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death. The Four Horsemen of The Apocalyspe.) Notice also, that even though manufacturing jobs have moved off-shore in search of cheap labor that none have found their way to Africa — which should ,in theory, have some of the cheapest labor on the planet. This is not just circumstance and we had better give greater attention to this matter. We cannot leave the fate of the world in the hands of those who currently rule.
Pingback: The Race To Leave Us Behind « Apolloproject’s Weblog
I started reading sci-fi when I was in 4th grade. That was before Star Trek came on the air. My mother told me it was “something crazy”. Compared to the top sci-fi literature Star Trek was rather mediocre but it was the best on television at the time.
But science and technology in the real world are somewhat different from sci-fi. Almost all computers are von Neumann machines. In 4 years at IBM I never saw or heard the term. I didn’t learn it until after I quit. Most of these palefaces are hiding information from each other. Unfortunately we seem to be even more stingy with knowledge than they are. School is mostly just paying White people that didn’t figure the stuff out to dribble out what they memorized as slowly as possible.
So one thing for us to do is use this technology to share good info.
Torrent O Books
But there is sci-fi in that Matrix too.
Sci-Fi List
Curiously the very first SF book I read, Star Surgeon, was about racism.
um