How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

"How Europe Underdeveloped Africa"

The book, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," is a true eye opener for any person living in America. This book truly makes Americans appreciate what they have and not take it for granted. To explain how this book will affect an Americans perspective we must discuss several counter intuitive problems. In total we will talk about the author and all of his success and obstacles, the consequences capitalism and development in Europe has caused for Africa, how the slave trade and colonization are still showing affects in the African economy today and how this book is benefiting its readers. Let us begin by taking a deeper look into the life of the author.

The author of the book, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," was Walter Rodney. This book was published in 1972 by Black Classic Press. Rodney was born and raised in Guyana, Africa. From the beginning of his life his family took the politics in Africa very seriously. His father was a member of the Peoples Progressive Party. So he was born in a political setting that would one day shape his life. Walter attended Kings College in Georgetown on a scholarship. He was also an athlete and he broke the schools record for high jump. He later won a scholarship to University College of the West Indies in Jamaica which he accepted. After graduating from UCWI he received a scholarship to the University of London where he befriended a man that led a study group he attended named C.L.R. James. This group exposed him to radical politics that helped to shape his views. After finishing his studies in London in 1966 he moved to Tanzania where he taught history at the University College in Der es Salaam. In 1968 he returned to Jamaica to create a new program for African and Caribbean studies. He started to fuel a black power movement which the conservative Jamaican government didn't like so he was officially banned from Jamaica. This brought political attention to Rodney in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Walter later published his first book based on his Jamaican lectures called, "Groundings with my Brothers." He then returned to teaching at the University in Dar es Salaam. Shortly after publishing, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," he was appointed as the Professor and Chairman of history at the University of Guyana.