Another stage for racism or monkeypox outbreak? European media outlets shamed for racist reporting

The idea of everything bad associated with black has been deeply engraved in the white supremacy system. According to Dr. Cress Welsing, a renowned African-American scholar, "the system cannot tolerate black people being strong, self-respecting and functional".

She further adds that since the Blackman is genetically dominant and the system is based on white genetic survival, automatically its enemy becomes the Blackman. Racism has been observed amidst recent global challenges like Covid-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Recently, the World Health Organization confirmed cases of monkeypox mainly in North America and European countries but western media outlets could not hide their weakness in fighting the more dangerous vice of racism. Most of them depicted images of people of black descent suffering from the disease even when it has not yet been reported in Africa.

Source: Official Twitter account for Reuters.

Various African journalists immediately expressed their displeasure with the reporting. A Kenyan group of The Foreign Press Association, Africa, (FPAA) issued a statement dated 21st May, condemning the negative stereotype that assigns any type of calamity to African people.

A tweet on FPAA official account.

“Shouldn’t it be logical that if you are talking about the outbreak of monkeypox in Europe or Americas, you should use images from hospitals across Europe or the Americas? Or in the absence of such use a collection of electronic micrographs with labelled subcellular structures?” Read a part of the statement.

“… Is the media in the business of ‘preserving White purity’ through ‘Black criminality or culpability’?” It continued.

The issue of western media outlets associating so much negativity with Africa is not a new thing. Different African leaders including Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta have been complaining about such.

Africans on Twitter could also not hide their resentment. Led by some public figures, they angrily expressed their disappointment with the said International media houses.

Journalist Siphumelele Zondi on Twitter.

As of 21st May, the WHO received reports of 92 confirmed cases of monkeypox from 15 countries. The countries included; Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Source: World Health Organization.

Signs and symptoms of monkeypox

According to the World Health Organization, it is evident that a person of any race or nationality can contract the disease. Its symptoms are; 

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Chickenpox-like rash on a victim’s body mainly the face and hands.

There currently exists no precise treatment but the symptoms can clear in a span of two to four weeks. Experts believe that the ailment is spread through close contact with an infected person.

In their clossing remarks, the APAA expressed its willingness to help Western media in the correct representation of Africa. In my opinion, it would be wise for them to accept this offer.

“FPAA offers its readiness to support media houses seeking to review their editorial policies to reflect correct framing of Africa, people of African descent and people living in Africa,"

The press release ended.