Problems of Africa: Opposing Viewpoints

Grade 9-12 A book that claims (but fails) to ``consider every variety of opinion in an attempt to determine the truth.'' Most opinions are from the extreme left or extreme right, with the latter in the majority. Furthermore, very few African opinions are expressed in the readings, and the only African country from which publications have been excerpted is South Africa. Not only does this misrepresent African opinion, but also makes it appear that Africans have no ideas about solving their own problems. One bias is best exemplified in the chapter ``Why Is Famine Prevalent in Africa?'' Famine is not prevalent in Africa, either in terms of the facts presented in this volume, or of any other facts available. In the introduction to this section, the editors equate ``food shortage'' with ``famine''which is inaccurate. Not one African opinion is expressed in this chapter. The six-page chronology of events is not related to the specific historical background of the readings. There is no glossary either of persons, places, historical events, or of basic vocabulary mentioned in the readings, nor are there historical or current political maps of Africa. The book perpetuates two stereotypes found in the majority of American social studies books published since 1960: that nothing positive ever happens in Africa and that Africans are overwhelmed by problems that they are incapable of solving themselves. Nancy J. Schmidt, Indiana University Library, Bloomington
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