8 ms·

I will never read "Africa" and not roll my eyes. The trials are set to take place in literally just two countries! Every single use of the word seems to perpetu

I will never read "Africa" and not roll my eyes. The trials are set to take place in literally just two countries! Every single use of the word seems to perpetuate the stereotype that the entire continent is ravished by famine and disease.

blenderdt 4y ago
Well I think this is really your own bias. The article quickly states that it is being rolled out in 2 African countries. It also fits the context. Countries with the most cases are Russia and almost all countries in Africa (except for the North). So Africa as a continent is in need of a HIV cure.
- skc 4y ago
  I'd love to know how "Moderna's HIV Vaccine Prepped for Trials in Rwanda and South Africa" doesn't fit the context.
  - blenderdt 4y ago
    It would also fit the context, but 'Africa' does also.
  - junon 4y ago
    If this were rolled out to a couple of states, would "in the US" be wrong too?
    - smt88 4y ago
      Africa is not a country. It also contains some of the most diverse individual countries in the world, like Nigeria.
      - junon 4y ago
        I never claimed it was? That's a non sequitur.
        smt88 4y ago
        It's literally the crux of the issue.
- dontlaugh 4y ago
  If it was rolled out it France and Sweden, the title most likely wouldn’t say “in Europe”.
  - blenderdt 4y ago
    It depends. If almost every country in Europe had high levels of infection why wouldn't they use Europe? I read the title about Africa as a positive announcement for the whole continent.
Stevvo 4y ago
I think you would have a hard time in Africa; Africans themselves tend to have a stronger affiliation to their continent than country and refer to it as-such.
- curiousgal 4y ago
  I was born and raised in Africa and I disagree.
- marci 4y ago
  This comment reminds me of this part of a speech[0] from a nigerian writer: I must say that before I went to the U.S., I didn't consciously identify as African. But in the U.S., whenever Africa came up, people turned to me. Never mind that I knew nothing about places like Namibia. But I did come to embrace this new identity, and in many ways I think of myself now as African. Although I still get quite irritable when Africa is referred to as a country, the most recent example being my otherwise wonderful flight from Lagos two days ago, in which there was an announcement on the Virgin flight about the charity work in "India, Africa and other countries." [0] https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_dange...
- Infinitesimus 4y ago
  There are over a billion people on the continent with several countries and hundreds upon hundreds of languages. You're gonna have a hard time assuming things about Africans as a group regardless of your stance
- wsgeorge 4y ago
  > Africans themselves tend to have a stronger affiliation to their continent than country My impression is exactly the opposite. We don't even like our countries that much, LOL. Tribal affiliations run strong. Sorry. EDIT: I've always felt that the "African" identity is pushed by non-Africans looking from an outsider's perspective, and our own social/political elite trying to reshape the post-colonial continent.
truthwhisperer 4y ago

blenderdt 4y ago

Well I think this is really your own bias. The article quickly states that it is being rolled out in 2 African countries. It also fits the context. Countries with the most cases are Russia and almost all countries in Africa (except for the North). So Africa as a continent is in need of a HIV cure.

skc 4y ago
I'd love to know how "Moderna's HIV Vaccine Prepped for Trials in Rwanda and South Africa" doesn't fit the context.
- blenderdt 4y ago
  It would also fit the context, but 'Africa' does also.
- junon 4y ago
  If this were rolled out to a couple of states, would "in the US" be wrong too?
  - smt88 4y ago
    Africa is not a country. It also contains some of the most diverse individual countries in the world, like Nigeria.
    - junon 4y ago
      I never claimed it was? That's a non sequitur.
      - smt88 4y ago
        It's literally the crux of the issue.
dontlaugh 4y ago
If it was rolled out it France and Sweden, the title most likely wouldn’t say “in Europe”.
- blenderdt 4y ago
  It depends. If almost every country in Europe had high levels of infection why wouldn't they use Europe? I read the title about Africa as a positive announcement for the whole continent.

Stevvo 4y ago

I think you would have a hard time in Africa; Africans themselves tend to have a stronger affiliation to their continent than country and refer to it as-such.

curiousgal 4y ago
I was born and raised in Africa and I disagree.
marci 4y ago
This comment reminds me of this part of a speech[0] from a nigerian writer: I must say that before I went to the U.S., I didn't consciously identify as African. But in the U.S., whenever Africa came up, people turned to me. Never mind that I knew nothing about places like Namibia. But I did come to embrace this new identity, and in many ways I think of myself now as African. Although I still get quite irritable when Africa is referred to as a country, the most recent example being my otherwise wonderful flight from Lagos two days ago, in which there was an announcement on the Virgin flight about the charity work in "India, Africa and other countries." [0] https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_dange...
Infinitesimus 4y ago
There are over a billion people on the continent with several countries and hundreds upon hundreds of languages. You're gonna have a hard time assuming things about Africans as a group regardless of your stance
wsgeorge 4y ago
> Africans themselves tend to have a stronger affiliation to their continent than country My impression is exactly the opposite. We don't even like our countries that much, LOL. Tribal affiliations run strong. Sorry. EDIT: I've always felt that the "African" identity is pushed by non-Africans looking from an outsider's perspective, and our own social/political elite trying to reshape the post-colonial continent.

truthwhisperer 4y ago