The United States faces many pressures to play a more prominent role in one of the world’s most troubled continents. The idea that America cannot afford to keep giving aid to Africa and the thought that we can be over-generous is an argument that many people like to talk about. One of the main points is that the giving of our aid is not actually an act of kindness and generosity, but rather political support and economic advantages. “We think the poor will be happy with our leftovers, because they don’t know any better and that they will appreciate anything, because having something is better than having nothing.” (Kristen, 2014) Americans just give, because it makes them feel better. In what ways does America fund and give aid to Africa and is it truly the most appropriate way to help a struggling continent?
When most people hear the word Africa, they think of poor families and starving children who can survive on just pennies a day on those sad commercials, that we usually flip the channel on. You see the children in those commercials walking mile after mile to get water for their entire family, with little amounts of clothes on and usually no shoes. Most Americans …show more content…
Americans collect, sort, ship and hand out books to students of all different ages in Africa. “Since 1988, Books For Africa has remained the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, shipping over 32 million books.” (“Why Books”) Access to education is one way to end the cycle of poverty and America helps those who otherwise would not get the gift of attending school. “40 percent of school- age children in Africa do not attend school. Forty-six million African children have never set foot in a classroom.” (“Why Books”) Without the help of America, many Africans would never have access to books and for many Africans the gift of books is truly a gift of