African Scholar Calls Historical Background Key to Understanding

"One of the best ways to get on the good side of an African is to know something about his history," William Leo Hansberry '21, professor of African History at Howard University, last night told a small group of students interested in teaching in Africa.

Speaking in the Union to about 30 students, many of whom belong to various University "Youth Corps" projects. Hansberry warned the volunteers not to enter Africa "with too much of a missionary spirit." A knowledge of the cultural history of the continent is useful in damping the "attitude of superiority" which many Westerners take toward the Africans, he maintained.

Hansberry's talk, entitled "African History and Its Relevance to Contemporary Affairs," emphasized the 3000-year cultural heritage of the so-called Dark Continent. He listed the great empires of ancient Africa, including many with familiar names: Ghana, Melle (Mali), and Ethiopia.

He also showed slides picturing Sudanese obelisks taller than those built by the Pharoahs, knights in armor roaming Africa at the time of the Age of Chivalry in Europe, and the famous University at Timbuktu.