Tags
Africa, black, exploitation, race, racism, savior syndrome, white
- I am at a restaurant in Johannesburg, SA with my African Sister. The (black) waiter comes to bring the bill. He puts it in front of (white) me. But I am the lowly missionary guest of my high profile, (Black) Attorney sister/girlfriend.
- I turn on the TV. There is a show on of fat bellied starving, sick and dying (black) kids with flies on their faces. I know that most of the African Africans, (not African Americans) cringe at the sight, are put off that this is how their Africa is being portrayed.
Africa is a big place. It is not all like that. And why is it usually a nice, clean (white) American who is lending the helping hand? (at least for the camera) What about the local workers on the ground who stay behind and feed, care for the sick and bury or nurse to health those poor dying souls? Where is their photo? Will they ever see the money raised on behalf of those in their care? Will their names ever be published as the ones who did all the work for the aid workers, mission outreaches, etc., to come and “serve” their people? Will they be noticed in time gone by as the true heroes of help?
Probably not. While their own children and families likely suffer at home in near poverty because they are working so hard to help THEIR own people, they rather look the other way as long as some good is coming out of it. “After all,” they think, “we need the help”.
Because then, what would the people who were doing these noble things by coming from their affluent America, say to the donors who financed the trip? “Yes we were really there. We saw it first hand. We came and really did something. The people were so grateful there, so warm and welcoming. We have to bring more people to help. They will die without our help”. It is called the “Savior Syndrome”.
We (white America) sees it this way: “shouldn’t they just be grateful we left our homes, came all this way, sacrificed to be here? After all, they are so blessed to have all this help. They must really love us a lot.”
Hopefully, I have sparked something in you through this. Don’t get me wrong. I am one of those Americans. I have spent over 30 years of my life in Africa working amongst some pretty big needs. But now, I am African on the inside and my eyes have been turned into African eyes. I cringe at my early thinking. I feel ashamed that (my) Africa is so patronized, exploited and pitied. I only wish that America and the rest of the world, could learn even a touch of what makes Africa rich in resources. Yes, there are resources of gold, diamonds, copper and the like. But that is not what makes Africa rich. It is the culture of respect, honor, the value placed on relationships that make her great. America is, in fact, impoverished in these areas. America needs Africa and Africa’s values. I am forever indebted to be able to embrace the true heart of Africa, barely skimming the surface of understanding just how rich I have become through being here.
This post from bytheirstrangeproof.com pretty much sums it up for me: “The ‘white savior complex’ is particularly strong when it comes to white aid in Africa. Often church missions have a concept of the ‘poor starving children of Africa’ and very little understanding of the self-empowerment and independence that can thrive in our absence.”
See this tongue-in-cheek video on common pitfalls of media portrayal. How Not to Write About Africa – Binyavanga Wainaina – narrated by Djimon Hounsou
What feelings has this post stirred up in you? What have been your experiences,-on both sides of the globe, and what can we learn from them?
My 500 Words Day 19
Jana Lackey 
Hi Jana, thanks to your family we to have fallen in love with Africa and the people there.
We visited Tanzania January and February of this year fell in love with Irene a young woman that worked at the Panama Resort hotel, she’s become our goddaughter.
Thomas was also introduced to the bootstrap Africa Masai girls school That is focused on raising female leaders and improving women’s role in the Masai culture.
I’m so glad to discover this blog
God bless The families of the world🙏🏻
Lou Ann Lindley
thank you Lou Ann! How wonderful to hear of your travels!! That is so cool. Loved having ya’ll. hope you come back!
Great writing, as always… and not just true of Africa. True of any country that “missionaries” are sent to from the U.S. The writings of John Devries have really opened me up to this.
Thank you for this article. I love the honesty and how real you are Jana. After living in Canada for 3pm years I have learnt just how my country Botswana is rich, not just financial but many ways you mentioned and how truly happy people are. People are homeless in Canada, very stressed and depressed and that is normal unfortunately, but honestly I feel like Canadians need Africans values helping held. Unfortunately I didn know what I had till I came to Canada (misled by media) and now I die wanting to go back home because of all the stresses and health problem the 1st world has brought upon 😒
This article has made me look back and appreciate the wonderful work that LBOM does, the local authorities at some stage didn’t vision it well and yet today a lot of missions and big NGOs has collapsed in Botswana. What makes it unique is what Mma Moruti Jana describes, she has become one of us and she is wholly part of us African Africans. You have allowed yourself to learn how we do things as Africans as in most cases the West potrays as they know it all and have better solutions for Africa.
Continue the good. I miss my work at LBOM and one day I will be back.
Munya, thank you for the words that have just made my day! With a lot of patience, and people, like you, and like many before and after you, LBOM has become what it is today and it will continue to grow into the nation as a beacon of hope to people, young and old who will become leaders!
This is lovely Ms. Jana, had tears in my eyes by the second half of this blog.
Coming from you, that means a lot! Thank you so much.
Jana, I have had many opportunities to be part of hosting short term missions in Botswana with a few organisations and have seen what you describe first hand. I have followed up on the many visitors who have come and seen the pictures and stories told. Some have won awards for their trips to Africa and rarely have the people on the ground been mentioned. It’s been heartbreaking at times.
What excited me was that Africa played a part in moulding some of those short term missioners by opening their eyes to the rest of the world. My prayer has always been that Africa would impact their hearts in their short period here even as they sought to impact Africa. Some came with preconceived ideas of what it would be like and left yearning to come back and do more. As a result, I have seen a great influx of long term missions into the country. For many, it’s no longer a week but months and years. This is an awesome. I read blogs like yours and see real stories.
God is at work in Africa. God is at work in America too. Awesome! Peter
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Thanks for your comments Peter. I think with good team orientation, with locals giving input to those preconceived ideas, the teams will be more helpful and the local people more blessed.
You’ve taken on a real contentious subject here Jana :-) I would have much to say about this as a “white African” having been born and raised and served here. However this is such a massive subject a book wouldn’t suffice :-)
I’ve seen what you’ve done in your 25+ years here and so appreciate your honesty in how you saw your role when you first came, and can honestly say you and your hubby have truly learnt the art of serving people and walking alongside them to their God-given potential, without any hint of “patronising” of those you’ve served.
Sadly all too often I have experienced first hand some of the arrogant and unwise attitudes of those coming from outside Africa, coming as “Saviours” as you described. How often have visitors returned home with “amazing” pictures of what they have done to help “poor Africans” but left behind a dependent people.
Having said that I have met many who once they see the situation and also understand there is much the African people can teach them, they respond with an attitude of serving and asking, not demanding and telling. The simple African act of “sitting under the tree” would be a great way for foreigners to begin….listening and asking…learning…and appreciating Africans are different”, not “wrong”.
Like I said I could write much but probably have said too much already. God bless you, Jim and your amazing team for the wonderful work you are doing.
Awesome input Ray! Thanks for the words of encouragement and insight. A good conversation to keep going and perhaps You should be writing much more on the subject!
Ray, Such good perspective. This is really something that can only be taught not caught. It takes time to get the SS (Saviour Syndrome) out of our heads-you of course have an advantage that you are of the African Soil, as my kids are. But having said that, a book on the topic in relevant presentation could help. Maybe we need to co-author a book on the subject!