Offended by certain charity campaigns

[Missangrypants]

As a person from an ethnic minority I am increasingly angry about the use of starving malnourished black or brown children in charity campain videos.

I'm firmly of the opinion that videos of starving white babies and toddlers would never be shown in this way.

AIBU?

For what it's worth, OP, I agree with you. I find these campaigns manipulative and distasteful as well as reinforcing 'starving children in Africa' stereotypes.

I think the fact that these images are of black children also serves to 'other' them. Privileged (mainly white) donors can then feel good by contributing money without asking themselves difficult questions as to why these children are starving in the first place. Questions about colonialism, empire, why their countries are at war and what sort of a mess we made when we marched in to plunder for diamonds or gold or spices or whatever. It's never as simple as giving three quid for food aid for a week. If you think that, actually, white nations have been stealing from Africa on an industrial scale, 'charity' of this sort looks like an offensive insult.

ChopinIn10minutes put very eloquently what I feel. OP I heartily agree with you.

I agree with you as well OP and Chopin you have articulated things well. There is an insinuation that the child is starving because she is black, because starving is what black people do.

I believe this thread has jumped the shark

You'd be more offended if they used pictures of a pretty blonde child in their campaign for rwandan child soldiers