These humiliating self-congratulatory sympathy concerts are made even worse by the fact that there were NO AFRICANS performing.
I would rather have seen Salif Keita, Mokobé, Alpha Blondy, Youssou N'dour, etc. on stage than these western yuppies.
Africa's problems can not be solved by entertainers, or even non-African nations. Only when Africans (and those of African descent) begin to fight for themselves (against corruption, ethnocentrism, etc.) will anything at all change for the better.
A more productive act:
AKAs Sponsor Informational Session to Help Africare
By Christina M. Wright
Published: Thursday, September 29, 2005
The Alpha Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. sponsored their yearly informational session on Africare yesterday in a packed School of Business auditorium.
Africare is the oldest and largest African-American organization with the purpose of helping the African continent. The organization travels to remote villages of Africa, reaching 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and works with the people to help develop their communities financially and economically.
"Our goal is, that when we pull out [of the village], and the community to continue prospering," said Lori Du Trieuille, speaker of the informational session.
Du Trieuille, deputy regional director, began the session by giving some astonishing statistics about American life in comparison to the rest of the world. She said most of humanity "lives on less than two dollars a day," and that 30 percent of the global population have never received a phone call. She also informed the attendants that an even larger rate of children in other countries work to help their families financially. Du Trieuille told the audience that the chocolate that most of them eat is made from coco beans that are picked by children workers as young as ten.
"I don't tell you this to make you feel bad," she said. "I just want you to know what is going on on a global scale."
The non-profit organization is funded through a donor-based budget. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has partnered with Africare for the past 18 years in an effort to fund the endeavors in Africa.
One way that the sorority raises money for the organization is through the Malena R. Calvin-Rance 48-Hour Stop Hunger Fast. Participants will select one food to eliminate from their diets from October 28th until the 30th, and during which time donations will be taken to support Africare's endeavors.
"Hopefully, everyone's motivated to help us join the efforts with Africare," said Nakisha Williams, a senior print journalism major. "We hope people are motivated to join in this initiative."
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