Did you see the tweet? No you didn’t?! *throws a shoe at you*. Anyway. Rick Ross in what is yet to be confirmed as ignorance or stupidity posted a tweet on how he was happy to be in the country of Africa. Yes, he called Africa a country. And worst of it all he posted it on Twitter.
Just landed in the beautiful country of Africa..I can tell you that the world is excited for #TheGifted
— Mastermind (@rickyrozay) June 24, 2013
As was expected Africans were up in arms and the rest as they say is history. AIAC shared the best ones on their blog. But behind all this I feel there is something worth blogging about or a small attempt to blow air where the fire has died or there is still sign of a possible re-ignition.
I don’t think Rick Ross is the first person from outside Africa to refer to it as a country. Hell, there’s even a blog dedicated to the matter (subject for another day but you can check it out here). Have you ever tried to think why such persons from “abroad” would have the audacity to make such audacious claims. is the US education system so bad that they are not taught the various continents that constitute the the globe.
One of the issues that has been raised is that the most of the blame lies with the media. I won’t get into the whole #SomeoneTellCNN debate as you probably know about that and if not tweet me to send you some links. I do feel that for most of the past centuries the media has not done enough to highlight the diversity of the African continent thus most “foreigners” end up thinking it’s just a country full of wild game and uncivilized people. For example when it comes to the issue of aid in times of hunger or disease. The issue may be in a single country but most of the western media and the NGOs will seek aid for the people of Africa not really the country that has the calamity.
I could go on and on about the subject being there is so much that can be discussed on the issue but let’s save that for another day and just have the discussion put out there in the public sphere.