I was searching the web for Nigeria resources earlier today and ran
across your website. I was delighted to learn about your interests and
achievements.
I too am a software developer, and am just a few years younger than you.
I was a computer systems manager for Shell in Port Harcourt 1990-92.
Since returning, I've continued as a self-employed IT consultant. I also
have a masters degree in International Affairs and Intl. Technology
Management.
I remain involved in a number of Africa causes. During the past several
years, I've been in contact with a gentleman based in DC who's very
influential in Pan-African affairs. I put together a $300,000 website
proposal for their organization, last year. It's objective is to promote
political and economic developments on the continent.
While I was positively impressed by many of your comments, there were
other remarks, from your website, which I found disturbing or inaccurate.
I am white, not racist. Ethnic discrimination is a fundamental feature
of human nature. Having travelled all major regions of the world, studied
their history, and lived in a number of them, I have a surprising report
for you. There is no nation on the face of this earth in which ethnic
discrimination is less pronounced, than in the United States. I would, at
the same time, join you in lamenting the fact that this is the best we've
done so far.
It is true that blacks, around the world, have been the "most
discriminated against" category. This is lamentable. Well before my
experience in Nigeria, and certainly afterwards, I have always had deep
affection and regard for people of African descent. But then, I consider
people absolutely independent of their skin or physical features.
I am not unique.
I think it is somewhat unfair for you to harp upon "white supremecists,"
who are a competely discredited and rejected, small minority of our
current population.
When I walked down the street in Nigeria, kids ran behind me screaming
oyinbo, onyeacha, or mbakara, but would invariably turn, scream, and run
if I tried to greet them (except the neighborhood kids, who eventually got
to know me). My Nigerian girlfriend was unfaithful to me. Her cousin
finally explained to me that this was because I was an oyinbo and Ada had
just been interested in me for money. I finally realized that Ada's
perception of me was so influenced by my skin color and background that
she couldn't see my humanity and feelings. She just viewed me,
prejudicially, as "a white man."
When the head of our department at Shell, who was European, left, the
Nigerians in the department groaned. He was replaced by a Yoruba man, who
proceeded to systematically fire or marginalize the Igbo contractors who,
previously, had dominated relationships with our department. Hardly
anyone complained heavily though, as this was accepted as the reality of
life in Nigeria.
So much for your implication that the US, or white folks, or whatever,
invented racism. You would know, from your own experience in Biafra, that
this is not true, yet your comments reflect nothing of the sort, in your
interviews with Guardian.
The Egyptians, who you refer to repeatedly as "Africans," and as the
inventors of math and technology, were not Bantu or SS-African racial
types. They were Asiatic people who migrated through the Sinai and back
into the northeast quadrant of the continent. They subjugated the native
peoples, the pyramids having been built by "hamitic" peoples, like the
Ethiopians. DNA tests have confirmed the Asian origin of the Egyptians,
but you need do no more than look at King Tut's death mask to see that
these rulers were not ethnic Africans, per se.
I say these things, not to take the wind out of your sails, or to
reinforce negative stereotypes about prejudices. I, myself, believe
Africans are capable of any achievement. Instead, I make these
observations because Nigeria already has a stout reputation for
disinformation. Build your house on rock rather than sand, Philip.
Egypt's history holds little relevance to Nigeria. And it isn't necessary
to reference it, to prove your point. Rome's experience with Britain is
much more relevant for the point you seem to be groping towards, in these
passages. I'll leave it up to you to research it for yourself.
You experienced racial discrimination in America, which is sad, but
certainly believable. If it makes you feel any better, it would have been
worse for you in Latin America, Asia, or Europe, in general. Having lived
in both east and west Africa, the discrimination I've seen there, is some
of the most brutal of all. All you have to do is look at the tribal
decimations of Liberia or Rwanda, to see its expression. You lived thru
Biafra. Where's your sense of balance as you avoid these topics in your
Lagos speech, and yet mention far lesser examples from your personal
experience here?
Meanwhile, discrimination against blacks in America is a legacy of
slavery. How did these blacks come into our society in the first place?
Coastal chiefs in places like Calabar and Lagos sold them to European
middlemen. One of the last chapters in the worldwide institution of
slavery, which pervaded every society throughout history. Greek and Rome
had more slaves than freemen (these weren't black). The word, slave, is
the same as the word "Slav," because the slavic peoples of Europe were
slaves for millenia.
Back in Nigeria, my highborn Igbo friends discriminate against lowborn
Igbos, the northerners against the southerners, the city-bred Efik against
the bush tribes. Where is mention of this type of thing in your
lambasting of American society, and your willingness to attach "racism" to
whites? We have a share, so do you.
The past is past.
African leaders, for four decades, have blamed every problem on the West
and you, being African, would know how unrepresentative this has been of
true analysis.
In Nigeria, I was always harassed for money and detained simply because
of my skin color. But, since I've returned, I have said only positive
things about Nigeria among my friends and family and have given countless
hours of time towards helping my friends in Nigeria, and Uganda.
You live in the United States, have benefitted from our educational
system and achieved a beautiful career that would have been impossible in
your home nation, and yet, all you talk about is racial discrimination
against you and the unfair economic benefit the US derives from African
exiles. Maybe the reason you guys have closed forums is because you don't
want reality or broadminded opinions to interpose themselves on a
orchestrated blamefixing agenda.
Hopefully, this is not too harsh. I'm sure that most of your points are
well-justified and, for that matter, I wish you great success in your
effort to help Nigerian economic development. My email address is [deleted for privacy]
Yours sincerely,
J. W., University of California, San Diego
01/24/97
Hello, Philip.
My name is Samuel and I have kept up with your site for
about a year.
It is discouraging to know how many people of African decent become
"nay sayers" to your suggestions for a better Africa, better race
relations, etc. I guess they fail to realize that you never claimed
to be perfect, but you do claim to love your heritage and African
people.
One white man who claimed not to be racist said that the original
Egyptians were Asiatic people. Mr. "White" man, YOU ARE WRONG.
IF YOU STUDY THE ANCIENT WIRITINGS OF HEROTEDUS AND MANY OTHERS,
THEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT COLOR THE EGYPTIANS ARE. IF YOU STILL DON'T
BELIEVE ME, LOOK AT SUDAN. Northern Sudan is Asiatic for THE
SAME REASONS THAT EGYPT BECAME ASIATIC-DIVIDE AND CONQUERE!!!
Over time the population of black Egypt became Afro-Asian, then Asian.
Please do not try to tell US about OUR CONTINENTAL HISTORY.
IF you do then we WILL CONSIDER YOU A RACIST MR "WHITE" MAN.
There is good reason for this and I am not trying to be too harsh on
you. However; Most of the information concerning Africa's past
and preset is controlled by "traditional" white Scientist,
anthropologist, and historians. They have never changed there
attitude toward us in 400 years and never will.
If a DNA test
is done of a BLACK AMERICAN president of the U.S.(if we ever get one)
are we to ASSUME THAT THE AMERICAN "FOUNDING FATHERS" WERE BLACK??? OF
COURSE NOT. SO WHAT IF KING TUT WAS ASIAN? THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE
TO PROVE THAT THE BLACK EGYPTIANS WERE DIVIDED, THEN, CONQUERED.
I am also concerned about the black nay sayers and black racist among
us. They fail to realize that much fuel to the fire of intertribal
hatred is spurned by greedy sellouts willing to sell the whole race
of African people to extinction. These sellouts usually are backed
economically by Europe and some Asiatic countries like Iran, Iraq and
Arabia. I don't expect the white guy who puts his faith in Eurocentric
"DNA" testing to understand that racist control most of the scientific
community.
I suppose that sellout people of African decent don't realize that
racist whites will dispose of them when there services are no longer
required to hold the rest of us in check.
I suppose whites and some
blacks get Angry when Philip tells the truth about this racist country
we live in. I have news for you people. THE TRUTH HURTS. Are there
other racist countries? OF COURSE. However, Philip lives in America.
I live in America. I live in a country that will stop
"ethnic cleansing" in Bosnia but will wink at its Arab and
Afro-Arab partner in the Sudan.
I suppose that blacks and some
whites fail to realize that no matter how many whites kill
and oppress each other, their leaders always succeed in unifying
them long enough to oppress and subjugate black people across the
globe.
Perhaps this is why the myth of white supremacy exist-our failure to
unite against a common threat when compared to whites and people of
lighter completion than us.
It is disturbing to note that you, Philip, receive such harsh
criticism for trying to unite the various cultural and ethnic
groups in your country FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.
I NEVER saw any evidence that you denied your heritage.
Constructive criticism is fine, people.
But why such contempt for a man that has a global vision to make
AFRICAN PEOPLE GLOBALLY SELF SUFFICIENT AND PROTECTED FROM RACISM ?
I am not from Nigeria so I will say nothing regarding criticism on
that front. However, I hope that those who criticize will offer a
masses oriented suggestion that will benthe people of our dispersed
and local African brothers and sisters---"common folk" they are on the
front lines in Sudan, Mauratania, Australia, India(as "Dalits"), Brazil,
Africa, etc.
We must stop being mouth pieces for white supremacist,
and offer more solutions and less criticism. Nevertheless, whenever
a black man stands up with his own morals, and opinions, he will
receive criticism from some whites because he refuses to be their
mouthpiece. He will receive criticism from blacks who fail to see
the global danger and oppression we face as people of African decent.
He will receive criticism from the black elite and the nay
sayers( blacks that feel that white involvement is necessary for
true equality).
I hope we will come together in love. I hope
whites who claim not to be racist will question their god-like
faith in the racially biased world of "DNA" testing, Charles
Darwin,etc.
Philip, keep up the good work. We care about you and what
you are doing. You are weathering the storm just fine.
[email protected], 24 Sep 1999
