When you examine the history of colonization in Modern Africa and in the United States, you find that they are quite similar. They have one key feature in common which is European Colonization. Africa and the United States were both colonized by European powers in the Europeans search for trade and money and quest to generally improve their economies.
“The Americas” as America was referred to in the past was colonized by Europeans powers which include the English, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch , the Swedish, the Hollanders, etc. between 1492 and 1963. The British were the major players in colonial game, although the Spanish were the first to explore and settle in the Americas.
Colonization in Africa was aided by explorers like James Bruce, who wanted to find the source of the Blue Nile and Mungo Park, who crossed the African continent from east to west and went on expedition to find the source of the Niger River. They found the paths through which the colonists came to Africa. Also, colonization was ironically aided by Christian missionaries who wanted to bring light to a dark continent through religion. For example David Livingstone.
Upon the discovery of both Africa and the Americas by the Europeans; they saw an avenue for trade and to improve their economies and so they settled in parts of the United States and Africa. They established their territories in both places and took chunks of Africa and The United States. One difference in the European colonization of The United States and Africa was that more of the African continent was colonized leaving behind only Ethiopia and Liberia than the areas colonized United States. Also, although the European powers in Africa and in the United States did not trust one another; this distrust only led to conflict in the United States in the 1600s and 1700s. Soon, the countries with the largest colonial presence were England and France and these two countries subsequently fought each other for control over North America in the Indian war. England emerged victorious in the war and gained control of more territory. There was constant expansion and overcoming of territories during this time.
Furthermore, there was a striking difference in the method of rule used by European powers in the United States and Africa. In Africa, both direct rule and indirect rule were used to govern the people. The British used the African traditional rulers as an intermediary in governing the people as the thought this was a more effective approach while in the United States only direct rule was implemented.
An important similarity between colonization in the United States and in Africa was that most of the divisions/segmentations of regions by the European powers during colonization are still the divisions and borders that we have in Africa and the United States today. In Africa, the segmentation of the continent during the Berlin Conference represents the actual map of Africa used today and the United States, the first English colony Jamestown is now Virginia and the pilgrim colony at Plymouth is present day Massachusetts.
Religion also played similar roles in African and American colonization. In Africa, religion was an avenue for colonization to be brought into the continent under the umbrella of bringing light to a dark continent and In the United States, the middle colonies were founded by people looking to practice their own religion. e.g the pilgrims.
Whether we accept the fact that slavery and imperialism still have significant influences on current events or not; the fact still remains. Although slavery and imperialism are said to have ended in most parts of the world, the horrible consequences of these inhumane acts are still being felt today. For example, slavery and imperialism still have negative effects on the African economy; African economies were made to serve the purpose of production economies, which are ultimately dependent on other economies for survival. The African economy was put in an economic hole that is difficult to climb out of. Also the issue of slavery has created a mental idea that one race is superior to another and it is common knowledge that it is not an easy task to change the way we think. We have mentally divided ourselves and this leads to inequality even in the slightest forms that we refuse to admit.