There is something incredibly violent and exploitative about white people going on missionary/humanitarian trips and loading their social media platforms with pictures of the “poor and desperate” people they are helping. Let’s get into white saviorism in Africa.

First of all, ask yourself what is the reason you want to go to the continent of Africa to “help”? Are you walking past the homeless in your city without batting an eye? Are you donating to local food banks? Why travel across the globe to do what you aren’t even doing here?

With no development work background, no medical background, many white people who simply have the funds and the privilege pack up and go to Africa, like Renee Bach. Renee started a non-profit org called SHC in Uganda at 18 years old. A number of children then died under her care

She was praised for years until the truth was revealed. They were loading up malnourished kids with food, getting them fat and sending them home to die of heart attacks. Renee would take kids from hospitals to her sites and practice medicine on them like guinea pigs. So many died

Many WP go to Africa to feel like they’re doing something good. If your reasons are self-fulfilling, you have a white savior complex. Why post your selfies with the kids and not post the African people working tirelessly without ANY praise to make a change? Why are YOU the focus?

A brazilian news journalist got heat a couple of years back for an interview where he publicly assumed the black man he was interviewing was a worker who “picked up balls” while the man answered that he was actually a professional athlete.

After being called a racist, to prove that he wasn’t, the journalist, Rodrigo Bocardi changed his profile picture to this. Is this what it is? African children are your “I’m not a racist” card? This is why most of these humanitarian acts lack AUTHENTICITY.

What is the point of pictures like these? Asking the people to donate when NO link or resources are added to this post. What is the point?? How are we supposed to donate? What are we supposed to FEEL with this photo? Did the children’s parent give you consent to post this?

African children are not your props. There are far too many Africans right now on the ground, risking their lives, doing sleepless nights often with no reward to help their people. Using your wealth, privilege and clout to make yourself the face of change is disgusting.