Ota+Benga

=The Story of Ota Benga= == =In order to understand the tragic story of [|Ota Benga], one must consider the major influences that shaped the world and the attitudes of the time period.First, in 1859, Charles Darwin's //Origin of the Species// sparked a great amount of interest in the "preservation of the superior races". Assuming that they were the 'superior race', many Europeans harbored a fascination for the lesser species of the world. Traveling 'freak' shows and circus acts were very popular during this time period. Simultaneously, European nations claimed African land in an effort to appear as the 'superior' nation in the world. African explorers supported by European nations brought back "fascinating beasts" from the Dark Continent. While the leaders of the country would claim to support scientific research, Africans like Ota Benga were often showcased during private parties as gawking guests who were curious kept a safe distance.=

[|Brief Article on Ota Benga] [|Article that ends with some really smart 'analysis conclusions' at the end.]

Tonight's Assignment:
==I'm looking for five people to initiate a conversation about this wikipost. So, if you are one of the first people to see this page, you can be that person! I'm looking for a well thought out reaction to this man's life. There are a couple different directions that you can head in this reaction and I'm interested to see if you can create a thread of conversation WITHOUT me telling you what to 'consider'.==

Everyone else: Minimum of three replies.
==*Just to remind you, wikiposts are time stamped and any posts after the time of our class will not earn credit. These online discussion boards can make the difference at the end of the marking period so do a good job and engage in some smart conversations.==