The United States of America has for decades been engaged in promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and justice across the globe while fighting dictatorship and terrorism among others. I can’t breathe uttered the dying George Floyd on 25th May 2020 on a street in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA pleading for his life. The video of the brutal murder of George sparked outrage and demonstrations against racism, inequality, injustice, and police brutality in the US and different countries across the world. Even President Trump affirmed that he did not like what he saw on the video showing how a white police officer sniffed life out of George Floyd. The message of the protesters in the US resonates and vibrates across the world and has further confirmed the existence of these vices in different societies. The inhumane, barbaric, and heartless manner in which the ex-Police Officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd is again an unfortunate example of man’s inhumanity to man.
The election of President Donald J. Trump has exposed the hypocrisy of a system embedded with racism, inequality, and outright disregard for the human rights of a certain class of citizens especially those of the African heritage. The Trump tenure has witnessed attacks on African countries often referring to them as the “s-hole” countries without regard to diplomatic norms and protocols relating to the conduct of inter-state relations. Indeed, the Trump era has witnessed a downgrading of the official language of communication with countries reduced to what can be described as “gutter language”. The moral descent has been generally applauded by the Trump power base with its racists’ agenda targeting ethnic minorities especially Africans. It matters less to the system the incredible contributions of these groups towards the development of the US. The Trump base and their racists’ agendas, adjudge the Obama administration as the worst in US history because of the colour of his skin. The assessment is based not on facts but lies which have become
President Trump’s outrageous utterances and of insults of world leaders, and private citizens and individuals, bare face lies, actions, inactions, and mind-set are fast diminishing the otherwise tall image, respect and role of the US on the international plane. As a result, the administration has continued to attract negative commentaries across the globe. Of course, Trump is unapologetic and had asked those not satisfied with his policies to go back to their “s-hole” countries.
Africa is the original home of the slaves whose generations have continued to face discrimination, inequality, injustice and brutal death at the hands of a US racists system that sees Americans of African descent as less than human because they are descendants of slaves rather than the content of their character and contribution to national development in that country. While a lot of progress has been made to end inequality and racism through nonviolence as symbolized by the Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr, of blessed memory, a lot needs to be done to tackle the numerous challenges confronting African Americans in the US.
The colonial masters granted political independence to African countries over fifty years ago. However, development has continued to elude these countries. The high level of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, corruption, unemployment, poor leadership, huge population growth, infrastructural decay, political instability, insecurity, among others have constituted obstacles to development. In an attempt to propel development, African countries have embraced with open arms a new form of “benevolent” colonialism. This time around, China is the new colonial power in Africa. While the Chinese citizens operating various forms of businesses in different countries on the continent are accorded respect and dignity, there are reports of inhumane treatment meted out to Africans residing and carrying out legitimate businesses in China. The challenge for African leaders is how to ensure good governance and development on the continent so that the dignity of the black person is respected not only in the US but worldwide.
A situation whereby young Africans flee the continent to seek a better life in developed countries of the world, hundreds drowning in the process in the Mediterranean Sea, killed or maimed in the Sahara Desert, raped, robbed, or even end up being auctioned in a slave market is a sad commentary on the predicament of the African.
The continued mindless looting of the public treasuries and primitive acquisition tendencies of African leaders and their cronies for personal gains has not helped the image and standing of the black race in the comity of nations. Indeed, African leaders are the natural disasters of the continent. Reports of stolen public funds meant for the development kept idle on farms, water tanks, or domiciled in foreign lands paints a negative and repulsive image of the character of leadership that is committed to looting the public treasury as against selfless service. While leaders of this greatly endowed continent present a pitiable picture as they go cap in hand begging for donor funds and loans at every available opportunity at international fora instead of using the immense resources available in Africa to develop Africa. So, how can the Africans be treated with dignity and respect? Africa can’t breathe! just like George Floyd’s final words on mother earth I can’t breathe!
We Want Good Governance 