Commentary: King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
EDIT: Since I wrote my initial commentary on his book King Leopold’s Ghost, Adam Hochschild signed his name (in addition to J.K Rowling) to a controversial document recently that argues against cancel culture; it’s important to acknowledge my stance on this. The term cancel culture is normally used by those who see accountability as devastation rather than a chance to grow. For those who signed this open letter, their insecurity about accountability is clear. I don’t support anyone on this list, including Hochschild. However, his book King Leopold’s Ghost is still an important document and is very much deserving of study. Here is a link to the open letter, should you wish to learn more.
TW: Colonization and violence
Lauralei’s Instagram @rebelmouthedbooks: https://www.instagram.com/p/B46Crd_gBmC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Reading Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa felt eerily like watching tonight's news. Although the story in question took place about 130 years ago, its themes are alive today-- ever-present in the absurdly wealthy destroying the earth's resources through unpaid labor to fuel western "civilization", dominating power-structures to their advantage, murdering indigenous populations to silence their resistance, utilizing mass media to erase history, to force forgetting, and to propagate false legacies, ultimately resulting in genocide.
If you want a single book that captures the large-scale picture of how colonization works, then this one is a recommended option. (Edit: I wanted to say that this is THE one to choose, but, after Hochschild’s signature on the open letter, I would rather encourage readers to support other scholars in this area, particularly scholars of color.)
I started reading this book as a buddy read. Initially, finding community was a relief, as the content of this book is incredibly depressing and disgusting. Sometimes reading with a group can open up avenues for discussion that help us digest and feel less alone in the process. The only set-back was that Hochschild's writing is pretty dense and it sort of pushed the group into a reading slump. Regardless, I appreciate the group for attempting this read with me.
While admittedly dense, I don't just recommend this book; I ardently urge everyone to make space and time for this book. King Leopold’s Ghost is a research-driven exploration of Belgium's colonization of the Congo, the assault against the African natives and their land, how King Leopold II of Belgium was able to commit such heinous crimes to such proportions, and how despite contemporary activists' outspoken anger and lobbying efforts to raise awareness and halt the crimes, very few people to this day know anything about it.
It is estimated that the colonization of the Congo, perpetuated by King Leopold II of Belgium, killed 8 to 10 million people.