On the first day of my Intro to African History course back in college, my professor (a woman for who I would develop the biggest intellectual crush ever) wrote the word “AFRICA” on the whiteboard. Then she asked us to call out the first words or images that came to mind.

ELEPHANTS, SAVANNAH, ZEBRAS, FAMINE, AIDS, LIONS, SAFARIS, JUNGLES, SLAVERY, MALARIA, WAR, STARVING CHILDREN, CHARITY, etc.

When the board was full, she put up a picture of a skyline taken somewhere near the Gold Coast (can’t remember where, I want to say Nigeria). High-rises. Fancy hotels. Shiny harbor. A bustling, modern city. You could’ve told me it was Florida and I would’ve believed you.

Best class I ever took.

Source: gleclair