Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 14

Leadership

essays, the west believe that they are superi-
degree or in every way possible to Afrikans
pro- and those of Afrikan descent. This
grams is the reason why Afrikans who
(under- work these essay writing jobs are
grad, often urged to conceal their identity
Mas- and location, not to say that they are
ter’s from Afrika. If they do, the busi-
and ness could lose clients who want
PhD) to cheat – but not have an inferior
done Afrikan cheat for them. But why do
for these young people from the west
other them. We also believe in their superiority? Their
countries in the world is not see it in those who seduce their pro- imperialist heritages led them to
what it appears to be. Having seen fessors or give in to sexual pressure believe so. How? From the time of
its tender underbelly and beaten the from their professors in order to get and before that of their great, great,
system over and over again, these ‘good’ grades? They draw their cues great grandparents, all the way down
essayists have uncovered a truth that from a society around them that to their parents this is the narrative
more Afrikans should know about. frowns on a certain type of failure they have been fed either through
I will get into that a little later in this (i.e., the kind that makes you look words or through the lives they
article. lower in the eyes of a superficial lived or live and have never apol-
society) and celebrates access to elite ogized for, that were built on the
In addition to that, the professor schools, high-flying jobs and life- foundation of corrupt deeds. If, for
and the editors of Patta’s video styles etc. A society that is obsessed example, a British or an American
missed several critical issues. The with status, how things look and – family once owned slaves and never
first of which is that cheating does all things considered – bribery and renounced or denounced the prac-
not lead to overall social corruption, corruption. tice or the profits they made from it,
but rather it is an outcome of it. or the social and financial benefits
Corruption stems from what is in Bestvalueschools.org puts it this way, they gained from it and continue
the heart, from what one perceives “Pressure to do well either academically to to live their lives on the foundation
oneself and one’s society and culture get into colleges, or to maintain a certain of murder, slavery and theft, they
to be, from how one measures right GPA causes some students to cheat. have built a culture (knowingly or
from wrong, and the importance of Students also face other pressures from not) that declares to each succes-
right and wrong in one’s eyes based external sources like parents, jobs, or other sive generation that this method of
on cultural experience and obser- responsibilities that prevent them from wealth acquisition is acceptable and
vations. Consider the recent college devoting time to studies.” They also list normal. The child who grows up in
admissions scandal in the US where other things like competitive im- the mansion or on the piece of land
50 people were charged for trying pulse, unfair grading, lack of prepa- that was either the fruit of slavery or
to get children into schools they ration and effort, helping a friend, land grabbing and murder … which
had not qualified to attend. Parents opportunity, group mentality (where is romantically referred to as ‘con-
would pay millions of dollars to students feel everyone cheats, so it’s quering’ in other words, the same
a college admissions counselor to okay), ethics (they don’t care) and thing they decry Israel for doing…
have their children’s test scores and because they want to finish school. that child will grow up believing that
athletic achievements falsified, in In short, a culture has been created it’s okay to continue along that path
order to secure their admission to that has these young adults believing and will do so, given opportunity
elite colleges. Had they gotten away they can or should cheat and that at and means to do so.
with it, like I believe others have in some level, it’s okay. That the end
the past, their children would have justifies the means. So, I ask you again, why wouldn’t
understood the underlying message: they believe that it’s okay? If they
“You want it? You can have it, if you can I ask you, why wouldn’t they believe are rich because their father or
pay for it somehow.” We see the fruit that? If my reading of American, mother stole money either directly
of this culture in the children who French and British culture is correct, or through an unfair deal and then
are paying to have their assignments, then the current crop of people in celebrated themselves as wise or

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