Documentary Review by Mark Langabeer (Hastings and Rye CLP)
This four-part documentary, available on Sky, gives a good account of colonialism and the super exploitation of the peoples in so-called third world states. It is narrated and written by the filmmaker, Raoul Peck, and takes its title from a book written by Sven Lindqvist. The first episode, entitled ‘The disturbing confidence of ignorance’, begins with the forced removal of the native Americans and recalls Peck’s childhood days in the 60’s. He points out that the inaugural speeches of the modern-day presidents are similar in content as the first presidential address of Thomas Jefferson.
Trump’s call to make America ‘great again’, begs the question, “For whom was America great?”, certainly not for Indians who were driven off their land to make way for white settlers who had emigrated from Ireland and other parts of Europe. Land was an important source of profit and Peck points out that George Washington became a wealthy land speculator. It is often assumed that ideas of genocide began with the Nazis. However, this documentary suggests that the attempt to annihilate what are described as ‘inferior races’ had a history long before the rise of Hitler.
White supremacy
The second episode concentrates on the colonization of Africa. Around 10 million Africans were enslaved by European powers. This was eventually based upon the creation of the idea that people of colour were inferior – the origins of white supremacy. Peck gives the example of Dunlop, the tyre producer, who developed the first rubber tyres for bicycles. The demand for rubber, and many other natural resources from which large profits were made, was the motivation for the plundering of African continent by the European powers. An agreement was made between them, where parts of Africa were handed to the major powers: Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Peck states that the first multinationals were the state assisted companies in India and Africa, which controlled the trade between Britain and ‘her’ colonies. By the end of the 19th century, Britain was the largest of the colonial powers and legitimised its rule with the idea of racial supremacy.
The third episode, ‘Killing from a distance’, is the means by which imperialism was able to gain the upper hand: the development of canon and, later, guns that could reload at speed. It gives the example of Winston Churchill’s account of the battle of Omdurman in the Sudan. Churchill described the victory of the British against the ‘barbarians’ as being due their superior fire power rather than better military tactics or personal courage. It was also decisive in the defeats of the native Americans.
War is profitable
Peck points out the links between the arms Industry and the political establishment in modern America. As Lenin pointed out, war is not just a terrible thing, it’s also very profitable. The nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are described in the film as the ultimate examples of killing from a distance. Truman justified the attack by describing the Japanese as animals who should be treated as such.
Peck spoke about his own experiences of growing up in America. He was taught to be polite and sociable in a white-dominated society. He gives many examples of movies depicting people of colour as either secondary or dispensable. The founder of the Boy Scouts, Baden Powell, wrote to his mother, complaining that ‘the natives’ refused to fight and that would deprive him of medals and other decorations. This was the mindset of many imperialists. Strangely, Peck did join the Boy Scouts and enjoyed starting fires in the woods and owning a knife.
Racial prejudice given scientific cover
By the 19th century, racial prejudice was given a scientific cover. The discovery that many animals had become extinct, and Darwin’s writings on evolution, gave an impetus to the idea that people of colour were inferior beings. Peck recalls that the mission to assassinate Bin Laden was called ‘Geronimo’ and the conflict with the Taliban ‘Indian territory’, which suggests a certain mindset among military tops in the US.
In the last episode, Peck makes parallels with imperialism, fascism and the current rise of right-wing populist movements across the globe, such as Trump, Bolsonaro and European anti-immigrant parties. I think Johnson should also be included among these right-wing populists. Although they drink from the same well as the fascists, these movements do not, at least at this stage, represent a fascist movement. Peck points out that Hitler and Mussolini derived support from key industrialists. The capitalists also had their fingers burnt in giving support to the Nazis. They lost half of Europe to so-called communism as a result. Fascism’s primary aim was the destruction of the labour movement. The current crop of racist movements fall short of this aim.
Though an excellent programme in many ways, Peck’s main failing is his lack of a socialist perspective. The period ahead is one of sharp turns between left and right. Racism is part and parcel of the existence of capitalism and will only be eradicated when socialism becomes the dominant idea worldwide. Racism is used as a tool to divide working people, and the labour movement, in Britain and internationally, must be in the forefront in combatting racist ideology whenever it rears its head.
