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Why does the news make Africa seem a lot worse than it is?
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^ An article that elaborates what I'm talking about. I don't understand what they gain from always acting like 99% of Africans are poor, and nothing is advanced, when it is not the truth. Yes, there's poverty and what not, but I've never seen the media show the GOOD sides of Africa that exist, aside from like ancient Egypt and South Africa
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How often do you see news stories about the middle classes of foreign countries? Never? That's because they're really not interesting. Nobody wants to hear about the people just like them in other countries. "50 000 average guys went to work and then went home" is hardly news. "50 000 children died of starvation" is.
That said, I actually have seen a few news stories about the middle classes in parts of Africa. I also have seen plenty of articles in National Geographic about groups in Africa who aren't starving and living in mud huts. You're just looking in the wrong place.
Also, that blog post makes light of the fact that life expectancy is under 60 in a world where people in my country live to an average of 80. That's 20+ years of life that people in Africa do not get to enjoy because of imbalance in the world. By bringing awareness to the fact that in Angola the life expectancy is 38, we can try to help raise that number through aid programs. So instead of being cranky that we're not illuminating the best of the best, maybe you should be glad we're illuminating the worst, who tend to be shoveled under the carpet in embarrassment, because it gives them a chance at a better life.
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That's not an article, that's a blog post. The quality reflects that.
The author's "research" consists of, literally, some Google image searches and some un-cited life expectancies. This completely ignores literacy rates, GDP of African nations, the level of HIV and AIDS, corruption, rights of minorities, rights of women, crime, poverty, etc. The list goes on.
The "good side" of Africa isn't pretty sun sets. The fact of the matter is that the awful side is so prevalent and widespread that to try providing a more positive spin on the coverage in Africa is irresponsible. It may make you feel better, but it's a disservice to the continent.
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