General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy 15 y/o grandson is studying colonialism in Africa.
An amazing, but horrifying, book I read years ago is King Leopold's Ghost. I'm a little worried it might be too intense and graphic about the torture that occurred against indigenous people in the Congo. But his class seems to be delving deep into the issue, so I'm thinking it would be ok to give him this book. Thoughts?
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)And they should be asked anyway.
That said, teenagers should be exposed to the more difficult things in history to begin with in order to understand the past and what happened.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)But they are very liberal and have never hidden reality, in age appropriate ways, from their sons. The "baby" is 10, and he's made it clear he doesn't want to hear or see scary things. This older one wanted to talk with me about African colonialism and seems very interested in learning more.
hlthe2b
(102,468 posts)discuss with parents and other adults, it prepared me for all the difficult issues to come.
Teens need to understand the world and they can't do so if not exposed to it and that includes tragic history.
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)That said, I would not want my parents doing that with my kids without asking first - and made that clear to them. It's all about proper respect of the parenting process - something they themselves would have wanted in the same situation.
hlthe2b
(102,468 posts)IluvPitties
(3,181 posts)with my school's curriculum. I was exposed to a lot of things without having to worry about what my parents thought. I made up my own mind.
hlthe2b
(102,468 posts)IluvPitties
(3,181 posts)Knowledge is power.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)In fact that's the sort of history that should disturb you.
Bryant
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Studying this subject has really opened his eyes.
bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)antislavery, aka antiTrump
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)my parents had stopped bothering about what books I read.
catrose
(5,075 posts)It's a steampunk, alternative history of Africa under King Leopold. She thankfully spares us the most graphic parts, but you definitely get the idea of what's going on. It might be a gentler introduction.
malaise
(269,237 posts)Walter Rodney - How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
Eric Williams Capitalism and Slavery and a novel
Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)I read Heart of Darkness, but may get the other two for myself, and pass them on to him.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)it is intense subject matter. you may want to discuss it with him as he reads it.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Is how diverse their level of maturity is.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,375 posts)If the class is exploring these issues, then the book should be appropriate. And, if the class is exploring these issues, your decision to give or not give the book is moot, so may as well give the book.
But, if you give the book, be prepared for some interesting dinner-table discussions.
applegrove
(118,865 posts)IronLionZion
(45,600 posts)And they made out like bandits. More people need to study what really happened there. I wish they had taught it better in school but I mainly learned that they made tons of profit from the natural resources and nothing about the horrifying atrocities against human beings.
King Leopold essentially took over that land for himself as a private venture without his country's government support.