Floyd Mayweather: "Why Should I Donate Money To Africa", "What Has Africa Done For Me"?
As a huge boxing fan, and in the wake of Saturday's megafight between Mayweather and Pacquiao, I am compelled to comment on this quote by one of the richest, most influential, and controversial African Americans alive, a man who elicits admiration and revulsion in equal measure. Love him or hate him, the sentiment he expresses in that quote is weighty and worthy of exploration. It is a legitimate, if a tad simplistic, sentiment.
Obviously one should not hinge donation to charity on what the recipient has done or will do for one; that would take make it an investment instead of a charitable donation. But if one goes beyond the letters and probe the inner meanings of what Mayweather is saying, it provokes thought. I don't know about others but I have often wondered why wealthy African American and other diasporic athletes and successful men and women do not invest significantly in Africa, not in terms of charity but in job-creating, money making ventures. Mayweather's statement should be a conversation starter on the "why" and "what" questions. In other words, what has Africa done to attract, court, and tap into the expertise, resources, and investable capital of our diaspora cousins in America and elsewhere?
My humble opinion is, not much. Where are the special visas for African American businessmen and athletes and special programs for successful diaspora professionals with special expertise that could transform some economic and infrastructural sectors in African countries? Where are the Africa-African American investment and project partnerships? Where are the special investment packages designed to attract dollars and knowledge from our cousins in America into specific sectors in Africa, packages that are analogous to the huge "slavery tourism" investments and policies in some West African countries?
Former President Wade of Senegal made some noises and enacted some policies to ignite and ease economic, investment, and human flows from the diaspora to Senegal. He even built a huge monument to to his vision of African American agency in Africa's economic renaissance. But where is that vision today? Did the government of Mackey Sall retain or expand the specific policies, visa waivers, and automatic citizenships extended to African Americans and other diaspora Africans?
All over the continent, governments are busy courting, sometimes shamefully, the expertise and investment dollars of a diverse group of whites, Asian, Arab, and Indian peoples, sometimes offering them outlandish incentives and a virtual carte blanche. These investments and partnerships are not inherently bad, but examples abound that they tend to perpetuate neocolonial and colonial economic frames in ways that investments and partnerships produced by African outreach to men and women of wealth and expertise in Africa America may not.
The same African governments which grovel and genuflect before white "investors" and "experts" do very little if at all to incentivize wealthy, successful African American athletes like Floyd Mayweather or wealthy music moguls like Jay Zee and Dr. Dre to invest in lucrative opportunities and sectors in Africa. Africa is believed to be the next investment frontier but most of the opportunities are going to white investors with ties to former colonial countries and America, as well as an increasing assemblage of Asians. Slavery tourism is a cathartic, emotional economy. It is not an investment opportunity that creates wealth and sustainable jobs for Africans and African Americans alike. It does not transfer critical expertise either. Besides, Africa's economic renaissance is not going to be powered by tourism, slavery or otherwise.
My provocative theory on this failure of African governments to tap into the vast capital and expertise in African American hands is that we do not respect our kind. We are victims of neocolonialism. We are enamored with whiteness as a symbol of competence and achievement, so much so that we do not give our kind a chance. We have sub-consciously bought into a postcolonial pathology in which pigmentation equals opportunity and expertise.
"Floyd Mayweather: "Why Should I Donate Money To Africa", "What Has Africa Done For Me"?
Last year, radio personality Kelly Mac interviewed outspoken and undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather. The boxer confessed that he has a "good heart," but that he does not feel obligated to give to charities, specifically in Africa."People say 'well, he got all this money, why is he not giving to Africa?'" starts Mayweather. "Well, what has Africa given to us? What has Africa came and gave to my children and to my family? Things work two ways."
At times Floyd Mayweather says the craziest things that are sure to get under my skin, however I use my wisdom when listening others and indeed Mayweather's viewpoint is valid, however for reasons beyond his understanding or reasoning.
See personally I myself do not "donate" and will never "donate". Based on the data, performance and results of many thousands of charities I personally do not believe charities, especially the ones operating in Africa can effectively meet the needs of our people at home or abroad.
It has become apparent that Africans and only Africans can improve the lives of Africans. Therefore my strategy for family relations and economic cooperation between we Africans in the Americas and our siblings in Mama Africa involves large scale investment, not donations.
We must and will invest in African Institutions, African Universities, African Hospitals, African Banks, African Agriculture, African Water systems, African Infrastructure, and most of all we will and must invest in African children.
Africa needs African Doctors, African Engineers, African Scientist, African Economist, African Industrialist, and most of we need to maintain, encourage and support strong as resilient African families.
Africa's future is now in own hands, we must invest wisely. Surely we are one people, we Africans in every corner of the globe must invest in each other.
Personally I love all my African siblings and African cultures. I invest with my heart wide open towards my people. Perhaps through investing in each other we will all soon love one another. Any investment that improves the condition of our people is welcome." ---Maurice Milles Mansa
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There is enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.
---Mohandas Gandhi
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