Colonialism broke the foundation. Some of our own leaders burned what was left. Both truths belong in this conversation. We cannot fix what we refuse to see clearly.
The world calls Black-led nations failures. But who designed the economy? Who killed the leaders? Who collected the debt? Before you accept the narrative — know the full story.
Black-led nations were looted before they could stand, their leaders were killed before they could govern, and their debts were designed to never end. AND — some of our own leaders became the weapon used against us.
Colonialism did not just steal land and resources. It deliberately dismantled governance systems, installed puppet leaders, rewrote education, and created economies designed to export raw materials — never finished goods. The infrastructure was built to extract, not to develop.
But colonialism alone does not explain a governor stealing a hospital’s malaria drugs. It does not explain a councilman diverting school funds to build his own mansion. Internal corruption is real. And it is killing us.
Burkina Faso. Ghana. Mali. Nigeria. Mozambique. Every time a Black leader tried to build economic independence — they were overthrown, assassinated, or sanctioned. Thomas Sankara built roads and schools. He was killed. His killer was backed by France
A taxi driver is pulled out of his car and attacked by a police dog during demonstrations in the business district of Johannesburg, February 1, 1993. Credit: Dylan Martinez