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Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa
by
In “the most honest book to emerge from Africa in a long time” (USA Today), a black american correspondent for the Washington Post reports on the horrors he witnessed in Somalia, Rwanda, South Africa, and other troubled African nations-and reflects on his own identity. Map; updated with a new afterword.
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Paperback, 266 pages
Published
July 1st 1998
by Mariner Books
(first published February 5th 1997)
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Start your review of Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa
The author reminds of me of that friend you have who you can always rely on for a blunt and honest opinion-the one who would have no problem telling you that your ass looked fat in those jeans-and would probably not give a damn if anyone opposed what she said.
So, while I'm not trying to equate opinions about political and social upheaval in Africa to unflattering denim, I can definitely say that Keith Richburg was going out on a limb by writing this very candid account of his experience in Afri ...more
So, while I'm not trying to equate opinions about political and social upheaval in Africa to unflattering denim, I can definitely say that Keith Richburg was going out on a limb by writing this very candid account of his experience in Afri ...more
I remember hearing about this book in the 90's and all the heat that the author took over it from pseudo black nationalists and white liberals. The writer stood his ground instead of backing down and I think I even remember him saying "thank God for slavery!" in an interview when reflecting on his time in Africa, which of course further added fuel to the fire. After all these years I've only just recently gotten around to reading it. I expected this to be good but I would have to put up with Ric
...more
Jan 08, 2018
Kitty Red-Eye
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
aa-ferdig,
usa,
war,
americas,
current-affairs-politics-etc,
nonfiction,
favorites,
biography,
travel,
africa
It's difficult to sum up the impressions after this book, as there are so many themes worthy of exploring, most of which I don't know much about. The experience of being African-American, or *black American*, as the author would insist upon, of living in Africa for three-four years covering incredibly brutal (un)civil wars as in Somalia, Rwanda and Liberia, visiting South Africa just before the 1994 elections... somehow his disillusionment reminds me of a Romanian friend who had lived in Germany
...more
This book really made me mad. Richburg purports to tackle the whole "African American and continental African relationships" issue, but what he really ends up doing is reinscribing unequal power relations between the two groups. He uses his experience as a reporter in Africa for many years as leverage for his "expert" perspective, but I saw no such dedication to difficult investigation here. Richburg includes almost no African history in his account. The colonial and neo-colonial history of the
...more
I expected to be angered, and I was not disappointed in that regard. One of the biggest needles being the sweeping generalisations about Africans based on the horrific experiences of the author in Somalia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. Second I would have to point to the author's seeming disregard for the crippling impact of centuries of colonialism, racial and economic discrimination. His attitude is one of, yes it happened, so get on with it, after all look at the East-Asia
...more
5 stars supposedly means "I loved it." Well that's a hard thing to say about this book because that sounds too trite. It's an extraordinary work of journalism and was a real eye-opener for me. It is hard to read at times because of the violence, harshness and cruelty depicted. Yet Richburg lived through these nightmares. His perspective, as a black man, is invaluable. But I wonder if my positive reaction to his book is just a sigh of relief - a "permission" to feel racist? A very thought-provoki
...more
I was awed by the courage of the author to stand up to the stereotypes of the African Homeland. I wish America didn't have so far to go in becoming a truely integrated society, but I also think he is right that we need to realize how far we have come and how much better it is here than in Africa. The book is a bit repetitive and bitter in parts, but I found it insightful and brutally honest. I only wish there was a newer version with more recent history.
...more
This will be a tough read for the fake Afrocentrics out there. It’s a rough book, but it is important. I personally found it interesting because it really puts Africa’s lack of infrastructure down in gritty terms. I wouldn’t read this if you think Africa is the dreamland that all Black Americans will be embraced into, or even want to be.
Nov 19, 2015
Hasan Randolph
added it
Out Of America is a non-fiction book telling about a black American man who learned that he would rather call himself as an American, than to define himself by his race. This happened during Mr. Richburg's depressing tour of duty of his job in Africa as a reporter for The Washington Post. While he was there, he saw the chaos of Africa. Shootings, murders,and wars. He even saw that Africa was infested with AIDS. It showed that the continent had no good future ahead. Keith originally came expectin
...more
As some other reviewers have mentioned, Keith B. Richburg's "Out Of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa" has a bit of legendary status. For a few years, I had read about it but not seen it. Then, I finally sought it out.
Richburg voices uncomfortable truths from his position as a journalist working in Africa in some of the most tumultuous times: two genocides, AIDs, and the general corruption that is always ongoing in Africa.
It seems requisite to say that Africa has a great amount of good that ...more
Richburg voices uncomfortable truths from his position as a journalist working in Africa in some of the most tumultuous times: two genocides, AIDs, and the general corruption that is always ongoing in Africa.
It seems requisite to say that Africa has a great amount of good that ...more
this is basically a long journalistic essay about a black american reporter's experiences reporting from africa. he witnessed a lot of atrocities, and a few non-horrific events, during the early '90s: starvation in somalia, genocide in rwanda, many stolen elections, and the end of apartheid in south africa. his conclusion? that he's lucky his ancestors were stolen and sent to america to be slaves. needless to say, this caused a lot of controversy at the time. his point of view is that the afroce
...more
Its a bit difficult to write a review for me personally without getting emotional. The book is interesting, not in that it adds anything new to the discussion on Africa (which it doesn't) but in that it gives a more concise view of the general world's perception of Afrika. Apart from spelling errors and a completely biased view of the continent from an individual who only spent 3years on the continent, the book is as shallow as it is full of dogma. I do not regret reading it merely as an explora
...more
I just finished with the book, and I read the comments below.
The book is narrating about the civil wars Somalia, Rwanda and South Africa(he used three countries used to compare a whole continent, which is not relevant- Nobody will use Nazi Germany to compare Western Hemisphere), and the facts were sincere.
Now, South Africa is part of the G20 and Rwanda has remarkable growth in its GDP.
I only hope the readers should have rational thinking by knowing what the author is talking about, the period ...more
The book is narrating about the civil wars Somalia, Rwanda and South Africa(he used three countries used to compare a whole continent, which is not relevant- Nobody will use Nazi Germany to compare Western Hemisphere), and the facts were sincere.
Now, South Africa is part of the G20 and Rwanda has remarkable growth in its GDP.
I only hope the readers should have rational thinking by knowing what the author is talking about, the period ...more
The author gives a stunning view of Africa, country by country, culture by culture. I felt sad for this continent burdened with generations of fraud, corruption, abuse, and seeming apathy. It makes me marvel even more at the loving spirit of the Lost Boys and for a leader like Nelson Mandela who live to create a new home land. This book will stay with me for a very long time.
Compelling, this book opened my eyes. It is a more serious read written by a journalist looking for roots in Africa but ends up appreciating his own country, America more than he realized he could. Frankly parts of this book will make you sick but...
First - an interesting examination of a personal journey by an African-American to see the differences between his own experience versus his perceptions of being of African descent.
Second - a brutally detailed and personal look at the civil war in Rwanda
Second - a brutally detailed and personal look at the civil war in Rwanda
A black child from Detroit becomes the Washington Post bureau chief for the entire continent of Africa and takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of personal experiences/conflicts. Well written and one I really enjoyed reading.
Excellent. True story. Too gruesome in parts for kids. Very educational and interesting.
This was an excellent read,though so tragic what has transpired in
Africa.Richburg doesn't pull any punches on what he witnessed.
Not a book for the afrocentric folks. ...more
Africa.Richburg doesn't pull any punches on what he witnessed.
Not a book for the afrocentric folks. ...more
It's hard to argue with a man who has lived what he's writing about.
...more
Apr 05, 2020
LibraryCin
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoir,
africa,
travel,
politics,
race-relations,
1990s,
south-africa,
reporters,
rwanda,
somalia
3.75 stars
The author is a black reporter, and in the early 1990s, represented The Washington Post in Africa. He was excited to go, to follow his “roots” in Africa. In his three years there, he experienced the civil war and famine in Somalia, the genocide in Rwanda, the many corrupt authoritarian and dictator “governments”, kids in the streets bearing AK-47s. He thought about his African-ness vs his American-ness, and came home (as many reporters in Africa do) beaten down.
The first part of the b ...more
The author is a black reporter, and in the early 1990s, represented The Washington Post in Africa. He was excited to go, to follow his “roots” in Africa. In his three years there, he experienced the civil war and famine in Somalia, the genocide in Rwanda, the many corrupt authoritarian and dictator “governments”, kids in the streets bearing AK-47s. He thought about his African-ness vs his American-ness, and came home (as many reporters in Africa do) beaten down.
The first part of the b ...more
Powerful account by black American journalist Keith Richburg of the horrors and tribulations of Africa, and how those problems cannot be reasonably dismissed as simply the results of “Western imperialism”. Some will call (and have called) his book racist and insensitive towards the problems of Africans, but those who actually read this book will see that this is not the case at all.
Richburg comes to Africa optimistic and interested in experiencing the land of his ancestors. Throughout his time i ...more
Richburg comes to Africa optimistic and interested in experiencing the land of his ancestors. Throughout his time i ...more
Aug 17, 2020
Jos Van
added it
As an African, I find this book a bit insulting. He does make a point that has been needed to say for a long time, that Africa isn't this problem free motherland that it is idealized as however this is not what I find insulting, I thoroughly agree with that statement. What I find insulting is Richburg's comparison to Asia and how Asian countries have skyrocketed to success and how African countries have not. He gives you every single point as to how we Africans have not failed and the only reaso
...more
Interesting book . . it started out pretty angry and I could see how it could put some people off, but I feel like I learned a lot from this book. I haven't highlighted as much in a long time.
I typically read for enjoyment. I don't like to get bogged down in political or non-fiction readings because for the most part they are usually biased (one way or another) and difficult to take in all at once. They are also emotionally exhausting. That's not to say they shouldn't be read, so every now and a ...more
I typically read for enjoyment. I don't like to get bogged down in political or non-fiction readings because for the most part they are usually biased (one way or another) and difficult to take in all at once. They are also emotionally exhausting. That's not to say they shouldn't be read, so every now and a ...more
Poinient
Mr. Richburg's experiences in Africa and America showed the disconnect between the rheotic of the elites and realities of life. Many people, come with good intentions, paint a picture of Africa that is incorrect to uplift the black American. The author correctly asserts that blacks should focus on the American culture and improving our standing here rather than lying about a utopian Africa. I enjoyed his book. ...more
Mr. Richburg's experiences in Africa and America showed the disconnect between the rheotic of the elites and realities of life. Many people, come with good intentions, paint a picture of Africa that is incorrect to uplift the black American. The author correctly asserts that blacks should focus on the American culture and improving our standing here rather than lying about a utopian Africa. I enjoyed his book. ...more
Out of America is a powerful book that got me up to date about Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to reading it, three things I knew about Sub-Saharan Africa are: there is no such thing as a country except for South Africa, it's full of tribes, and war, destruction, and disease are the norms. The author proved me correct on all three counts. Nothing has changed, and there's no way I will ever visit there.
All in all, Sub-Saharan Africa is no fairy tale, even for the blacks. ...more
Prior to reading it, three things I knew about Sub-Saharan Africa are: there is no such thing as a country except for South Africa, it's full of tribes, and war, destruction, and disease are the norms. The author proved me correct on all three counts. Nothing has changed, and there's no way I will ever visit there.
All in all, Sub-Saharan Africa is no fairy tale, even for the blacks. ...more
Great book, having lived in Africa myself it just explains some things although of course it is not always applicable, there are alot of good lessons for anyone to be won out of this book. I am not black, but I still learned many important lessons about life that transcend skin color or heritage country.
Wow, that was a difficult read. I can't believe people are currently living in those conditions. I learned a lot, but, it's grim. So grateful for journalists who put themselves in harm's way to report what's happening across the globe.
...more
A black Washington Post reporter spends three years in the continent of his ancestors. Disease, genocide, war and corruption make him thankful for his ancestor who came to America in chains. He finished the book in 1996. I fear nothing has changed.
Absolutely stunning account of a foreign correspondent's experiences in mid-1990's Africa. Chapters focus on Somalia, South Africa, Rwanda. The author is absolutely fearless in his frankness about the things he witnesses there and the substance of his resultant soul-searching.
...more
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