Africa Is Not How It Is Always Portrayed

As a little kid, I would watch the news from all over the world. I think watching the news from all over the world had something to do with how I used to perceive Africa. In fact, I was always scared to go to Africa. They made it seem so violent and so impoverished that I didn’t think I had any reason to go there-even though I knew my ancestors were from there.

In fact, even in high school I never felt like I should visit there. It really didn’t dawn on me that sometimes the things that the media portrays on television do not tell the whole story. I realize that it may not always be the prerogative of the media to do these things, but sometimes it comes across as this.

For example, sometimes the media tends to show the terrible parts of Africa and the terrible situations that are happening in Africa, like people being infected with AIDS or people in poverty.

However, there is so much more to Africa then this.

I have gained so much appreciation after being able to go to Egypt and South Africa and to experience how Africa really is. There are so many loving people in these places and so many beautiful cultures all across the continent.

Moreover, I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience and to see Africa with my own eyes, so that I can now share my experience with you.

It is an experience that makes me want to make sure that media outlets start to portray the truth about how Africa really is and how beautiful it is. It is my favorite place on earth.

One interesting aspects I often think about and ponder on is how the world perceives Africa. Many times when I have told people that I traveled to South Africa for the summer or now when I tell people that I was in South Africa for the summer they tend to look shocked. Certainly, not everyone says negative things about Africa as they look at me distressed, but it hurts me when some are. I realize that it is only ignorance and that they have all of these misperceptions of how Africa really is. However, I know that much of that is probably from negative things that they have seen on television or what they have read.

I hope that my series of articles about my experience in South Africa will change their views on it and your views too.

I believe that we each have the power to change perceptions within the world in order to let the reality of situations come forward. We can each bring to life the realities of every part of the world through the media and our conversations with others. I truly believe this.

I also believe that God has allowed me to share my message with you to change the world and how we connect with one another on each continent, within each country, and in each journey of our lives.