Afrocentrism Versus Eurocentrism Essay examples - 4480 Words

Afrocentrism vs. Eurocentrism | Afrocentrism and Eurocentrism differ in many ways, and have help to advance the cause of both Africans and Europeans throughout history. Some would argue that had it not been for Eurocentrism Afrocentrism would never have existed, and in a sense the former is responsible for the creation of the latter. The manner in which both ethnocentric ideas view the world are totally different from one another but they are alike in the sense that they strive to place each of their ideals at the center. There is a long storied past associated with these two ideologies as well as a difference in opinion between and among the two. Afrocentrism seeks to teach a worldview that highlights the contributions of African†¦show more content†¦They practice barbaric customs toward women, such as female genital mutilation (North Africa), widow-burning (sati, India) or foot-binding (China). Non-European societies are inflexible and unchanging. Some European thinkers have attributed this lack of change to topography or climate, for instance extreme dependence on a major river, such as the Nile or the Yellow River, or extreme heat or dryness. Non-European societies are poor, backward, and underdeveloped, as opposed to the industrialized, progressive, and rich West. Non-European societies lack rational modes of thinking and scientific approaches (Ancient African Writing Systems and Knowledge ). This Eurocentric thinking through colonialism and imperialism has affected the rest of the world a great deal. Those who were born and raised in a society where Eurocentrism dominates are raised to believe that the West is superior to the rest of the world, and that Caucasians are superior to everyone and everything. When looking at and studying the history of different societies across the world where Eurocentrism has spread, one can clearly see how different that society has become since the influx of Eurocentric thought and practices. In many instances such as countries in Africa these societies do not profit from their natural resources but instead Europeans and/or the West collect most of the profits and use these natural resources in order to benefit them and their societies. In a