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Vincent Mugaba (196.0.10.118)
Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 9:58 am:   

I was online a-surfing when I came across the Peace Corps website. I must say it is a very informative website and makes for good reading.

However, I was, should I say, surprised by what I found on this page:
peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2027226.html

I am an African from Uganda living in the city of Kampala. At one time or the other, I have interacted with Peace Corps. Many do a great job and I believe we learn from them as much as they learn from us.

But never did I imagine how I looked like in the eyes of some peace corps until I looked at these stereo-typed paintings of Africans. Surely the artist was not an amateur-- the peeping guy to the left (probably white American) is proof that the artist was good at his/her work and the depiction of my kith and kin was deliberate.

Well, I must say, thanks for the lesson. I am now much the wiser. It may mean probably photoshopping some of these photos at www.furahamedia.com/nandiphotos/

regards,

Vincent Mugaba
Admin1 (admin) (adsl-70-233-229-64.dsl.okcyok.sbcglobal.net - 70.233.229.64)
Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 10:50 am:   

Dear Mr. Mugaba,

The paintings are actually not of Africa but Brazil. Take a look at some of the other artist's paintings at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2029401.html

and at:

http://tomasbelsky.com/

Artist Tomas Belsky writes:

"I did this painting in 1970. It is oil on canvas, around 4 ft h x 6 ft w. I was in
severe culture shock upon reentry to the states and painting this Lembranca
(memory) helped me sort myself out mentally. It shows some favella
neighbors making rhythmic sounds on an old food oil can (Alianca para
Progresso). It is not a happy picture, the colors are bright, but the
living conditions presented an eternal agony for the povo of Brazil. It's
a kind of greeting from the people of the favella to the people of the USA.
At the time I was teaching at a storefront Afro-American alternative school. "

Best Regards,


Admin1
Anonymous (ns1.peacecorps.gov - 65.205.231.250)
Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 12:02 pm:   

Dear Mr. Mugaba,

One thing I would add is that this is not the Peace Corps website. You will find the official site at www.peacecorps.gov

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