Why The Starving Kids In Africa Excuse Is Bullshit
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why The Starving Kids In Africa Excuse Is Bullshit

Unlearn what you were taught about why you should be grateful for your vegetables

14914
Why The Starving Kids In Africa Excuse Is Bullshit

“There are starving kids in Africa that would love to eat those vegetables.”

“Oh boohoo, you lost your phone charger, you know starving kids in Africa don’t even have phones.”

You’ve heard it a million times before from your parents, grandparents, even your friends, and do you know how much good it does? Zip. Zilch. Nothing. I’m pretty convinced that people my age only utter the idiotic phrase because they grew up hearing it from their parents.

It’s intended to make children, and adults for that matter, grateful for what they have in life. While that is an admirable intention, the execution is where things get messed up.

“Starving kids in Africa” perpetuates the idea that all Africans are the same – malnourished, starving, hungry, emaciated. “Starving kids in Africa” groups a whole continent together, not allowing for individuality to be expressed from person-to-person or even nation-to-nation. “Starving kids in Africa” creates an all-consuming identity of “needy,” not allowing the positive qualities of African nations and people to shine through, like invention, progression, hard work, and ingenuity.

This is not Africa, this is a part of Africa.

This is a marketplace in Cote d'Ivoire.

This is Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

These are students at the University of Zambia

These pictures and more make up parts of the continent and the nations within. Singling out one image is to discredit the existence of the rest.

“Starving kids in Africa” doesn’t fix the problem. Whatever that problem might be, pointing out that there are less fortunate people out there doesn’t resolve the immediate issue. Your kid doesn’t want to eat their vegetables? Your roommate is complaining about never meeting One Direction before their yearlong break? The presence of hungry kids in a place doesn’t make asparagus taste better or disappointments hurt less. Try being a sympathetic human being or, as Thumper said, shut the fuck up.

Africa deals with major issues like gender inequality, hunger and thirst, slavery, violence, and unstable governments. Just like the rest of the world. Pointing out the hungry children in a distant continent isn't going to solve any of those problems either.


Visit this charity to give clean, fresh drinking water for those in need.

Change the conversation. Find another way to get your little ones to eat their veggies. Do research on what really is going on in Africa, maybe taking some time to actually learn about individual countries while you're at it. Figure out how you can be a part of the solution to these issues so you can stop spouting bullshit about a continent you know very little about.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Politics

Ancient Roman Kings: 7 Leaders of Early Rome

The names and dates of the reigns of the first four kings, as well as the alternation of Sabin and Latin names, are more legendary than historical. The last three kings, of Etruscan origin, have an existence which seems less uncertain.

1355
inside ancient roman building
Photo by Chad Greiter on Unsplash

It is evident that all this is only a legend although archeology shows us little by little that these kings if they did not exist as the ancient history, describes them, have at least in the very Outlines were real as chief of a shepherd’s tribe. The period when kings ruled Rome could estimate at 245 years.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Love Lost

Being the girl that is falling for the boy is never easy.

1562
Love Lost
Pexels

You constantly text my phone telling me that you want to see me and hang out, even though we may not have sex we cuddle and that’s intimacy in its own. I’m tired of buying you food and being there for you like a girlfriend when you consistently tell me you aren't ready for a girlfriend. I am constantly feeling I’m getting slapped in the face because I’m doing all these things and getting nothing in return. Every day I feel myself liking you more which is just crazy because why would I even waste my time liking someone there isn’t a future with. I just want you to be honest with me and with yourself, tell me how you feel from your heart, stop just saying you aren’t ready. You are wasting time telling me you aren’t ready because while you are “getting ready” some guy somewhere else is telling me that he likes me and thinks I’m beautiful and wants to date me. I’m not asking for much, but I at least want exclusivity because you ask me for all these things but in return you give me nothing.

Keep Reading...Show less
Pretty Little Liars

From reading the books in eighth grade to watching the television show all throughout high school, "Pretty Little Liars"basically defined my teenage existence. I was completely and totally obsessed on all accounts. However, even though I loved the fact that the books and the show are starkly different, there are simply just some ways in which the books are much better. Let's take a look:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

To The Girl In The Back Row

I just want you to know you are loved. You are loved so very much.

2132
To The Girl In The Back Row
Sojo.net

Recently I was blessed to be a counselor at a wonderful camp, secluded in a cornfield somewhere in Virginia. I consider myself to be a seasoned camp counselor, as I have not only been a camper for most of my life but have been privileged enough to work multiple camps with all kinds of different facilities. I have worked camps with multi-thousand dollar facilities, with zip lines, rock walls, ropes courses, and boats. I have worked at camps with amazing water sports, camps with paintball, camps with canoes and paddle boats and floating blobs or trampolines in the middle of the water. I have worked at camps with in ground pools and camps without any pools, and even some camps with go-karts. I've had problem kids, kids who refuse to listen to anything I say, kids who sneak out after lights out to meet a significant other, and kids who are every camp counselors dream.

Keep Reading...Show less
Politics

Why The United Nations Is Key For The World

"As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th"- Donald J. Trump

2435
Why The United Nations Is Key For The World
Flickr/ses7

The United Nations (UN) has been in existence since June of 1945. Since then, the world has come together to work on and solve some of the harshest problems that face the Human Race. Be it children in societal ills like Human Trafficking, natural issues like Deforestation, or issues of extreme poverty, the UN has worked together in an attempt to make it a better place for us all. It's the only organization in the history of the world to bring people together in a willing, peaceful way; a feat that not even the League of Nations could do in the Post- WWI era. Why was it that one organization failed, and the other one is still going strong, 72 years later?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments