Africa The Dark Continent Analysis

A hundred and seventy-five years ago European colonist labeled Africa the “Dark Continent.” Whether or not the term was introduced with invidious intent has continually been the subject of much debate among black scholars. The controversy centered on the use of the word “Dark” which Europe, scholars interpreted as being without growth and development. Not that Europe was more developed than Africa, but because the sub -Saharan part of the continent was a complete mystery to Europeans. This notion was due in part by explorers like Dr. David Livingston, Mungo Park and Henry Morton Stanley incomplete reports of African nations aggressive expansion around Sierra Leone, Mali, and Guinea to build and set up stable states . They failed to explain that African nations were involved with their own economic, social, and military evolution. In addition, guns were becoming more essential on the battleground, …show more content…
An opportunity that the author seized upon fearing that it may never present itself again. One would ask why would the opportunity not present itself again? Or why did Mr. Brown not think of visiting Africa as a possibility? Though he never shared the reasons with his readers one can only assume that it was financial. Nevertheless, other questions lingered. Did not the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 and the passing of the general Act of the Conference at Berlin open the floodgates for European colonization of Africa?
It cannot be denied that the 1880s were known as the mad rush into Africa. Nor that by 1899 European countries were claiming land and creating nations for their respective countries. Now why did Mr. Brown not think of visiting Africa as a possibility? Henry Morton Stanley book “Through The Dark Continent” reveals the reason Mr. Brown did not think of visiting Africa as a