On Africa

I'm sitting here writing a paper and thinking about perspective. The media's portrayal of Africa creates a false perspective of what is really going on. Of course, there is poverty, high rates of HIV/AIDS in some areas and other things. And I definitely see areas where knowledge could be imparted, not because we have superior knowledge but because we have discovered something that works better especially in health promotion. But is D.C not experiencing high rates of HIV infection?  Are there not hundreds of homeless people sleeping on the streets of America's capital? Is Africa the only place where urgent attention to these issues is needed? All I'm saying is that there is more to Africa than what we see or what we are told or what we generalize. Africa is a continent not a country. There are roads and there are cities. Some countries are doing better than others. Some cities have more to offer than others. Some families in the villages may have more land than a married couple in Connecticut.  The media report contradictions and create confusion. The media and miseducation will have you believing that Africa is home to the culturally vibrant but the most ignorant species of world citizens. Damn. Even if I told you there are also plenty of proactive citizens attending universities, you would not believe me. If I told you, there are people hustling to be fashion designers, models and businessmen you would not believe me. And if I told you that many Batswana have already visited the states at least once or know someone who has.... If I told you that Batswana will always find their way home because the one thing the states could never give them is peace, you would not believe me. I doubt they would believe themselves when they returned from the land of golden pavements and diamond water fountains. The reality is we all can learn from each other. One country's development could be another country's gain and one country's preservation of culture/tradition could be another country's inspiration. But what do I know, I'm just a poet writing to pass time.