Watch Africa.com's Documentary

Addressing The Danger

Of A Single Story:

'Africa Straight Up'

 

by Tambay A. Obenson

October 10, 2012

We alerted you to this upcoming documentary series from Africa.com titled Africa Straight Up. 

As a quick recap... The website's goals are: to change the way the world sees Africa, and to be the online platform for those changes.

Here's how the documentary Africa Straight Up is described:

With more than a billion people spread across 54 countries, speaking more than 3,000 languages, Africa cannot - and should not - be limited to a single narrative. Africa Straight Up is an insider's look at positive stories about Africa and its diaspora. 

The film is now available online, and you can watch it in full (it's about 30 minutes) below.

One thing I'll say before you watch it, is that, while I applaud the intent behind initiatives like this, as I watched the documentary, I couldn't help but be frustrated that something like this is still necessary in 2012; It screams: "Hey - look! We are Africans and we are human beings too, living regular lives, with the same concerns and worries, trials and triumphs that the average westerner (or non-African) has; come and see for yourselves!"

To make a comparison, it reminds me of the CNN Black In America series that many reviled. There's obviously the desire to belong, to be seen as equals, to educate the ignorant; but at the same time, it's also kind of off-putting that we almost constantly feel like we have to work to acquaint and endear ourselves to the *other,* partly for their comfort.

But, like I said, I understand the motivation here. My frustration isn't so much with the documentary itself, but rather with the ignorance within this global society we all live in, which demands that a documentary like this be created, both for our benefit, and *theirs.*

Watch the full film below: