Gabriel, Bernard, Brian and Derrick are out to help change the West’s perception of African men.
For decades, Hollywood has portrayed African men as warlords, drug lords, crazed soldiers, genocidal dictators and mercenaries out for blood.
Mamahope.org hopes to see that shift. This is Mamahope.org’s mission, according to their website:
Take the word AFRICA… without thinking, what images immediately come to mind?
War? AIDS? Genocide? Or maybe the vision of a small child with a swollen belly, surrounded by flies? … Too many non-profits ask for your pity by depicting poor, helpless Africans. But like any stereotype, this portrayal has more exceptions than truth.
Mama Hope feels it is time to re-humanize Africa and look to the positive change that is happening. Through a series of videos Mama Hope wants to show the light of the people we serve in Africa. We aspire to introduce our partner communities to you with the integrity and brilliance that we witness everyday. In these videos we feature the shared traits that make us all human—the dancing, the singing, the laughter and bring the compelling truth of their lives to your living room. This is a campaign to build awareness of the simple fact that we are more similar than different. It’s time for us to change the way we see people across the world and start to see other communities for the people they are instead of the stereotypes we’ve been trained to expect. It is time to stop the pity and unlock the potential!
What do you think of this video and campaign to change the public’s perception of African men?
What can we do, as Westerners, to help change the way Hollywood portrays African men?
Why for God’s sake do we Africans need another organisation to “rehumanises” us? Most of us Africans have been getting on with life, mocking your strange predilections and fascination with imposed pathologies, and spending our time not merely ignoring you but becoming the coolest people on the planet, without your help. Just because we are flavour of the decade (no money elsewhere) are we to be grateful that you have suddenly realised that (gasp) African stereotypes no longer make business sense? Please go awaly. Leave us alone. We actually do not care what you think. You do not matter in… Read more »
Lionel Loueke = the very talented guitarist and singer (originally from Benin) who plays with Herbie Hancock….he is amazing and transcends it all with his music!