28/08/2026
A White person putting themselves in a mise en scène, surrounded by Black and Brown people, especially children looking at them with gratitude, happy that they have finally arrived, is not scarce content on social media.
Same with Reels where Westerners argue with local communities using a strong (but only apparently convincing) argument: my money is building your country.
All of this content has something in common: White Saviorism, a concept deeply rooted in colonialism and the narrative that Western societies came to “civilize” other countries.
The large boats disappeared and were replaced by planes. The colonial uniforms by caps and flip-flops. Religion, roads and “progress” by pens, English lessons and school construction.
But the pattern is the same: we bring what you lack, even if you don't actually lack it. We don’t mind. We don't ask. We don't listen. We simply project an idea of what your society should look like, and then come to help.
It may come from a good place. You may genuinely want to help, but without realizing it, you can still reproduce colonial patterns.
And yes, even if you're Brown or Black, you can be doing the same thing.
So, what are your thoughts on White Saviorism?