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White King Red Rubber Black Death
Introduction
If an account would be designed to list down the names of brutal and critical times, in terms of evil and malice that has served as a potential threat to the lives of people, the name of King Leopold appears on the top of list. His crimes eclipses in the atrocities’ of the World War II. A horrifying documentary by Peter Bate is a stance that has the power to drift viewers back to the state of King Leopold II, I.e. Congo Free. It is a timeline of 23 year ordeal that the people of nation suffered and they were affected by the enrichment of a nation that was never seen before. The documentary is more like an evidence of all the circumstances that surrounded the reign of King Leopold over Congo and it was the timeline of courage that behooved individuals to bring an end to the ever appealing and approaching terror of the dirty secrets that were embellished under the tag of colonial idealism in late 19 and 20 century.
Discussion
The documentary, Congo, White King, Red Rubber Black, is an astonishing documentary. It is the story of genocide that was perpetrated by the King of Congo. It reflects the story of how King Leopold II of Belgium made attempts to convert Congo into a private colony, referring to the time span of 1885 to 1908. It is significant to note that the documentary is an accusatory tone that is enforced by the tides of time, where King Leopold is placed on trial. Scenes are staged where an actor should be made to face the charges against him. It is asserted that the documentary is a clear depiction of amalgamation of both, emotions and courage to such an extent that signifies the elements of human life when doomed to be criticized and destructed by force and violence. It is a twinge of sadness that there were a number of lives that were squandered, taking into account that the documentary laments the endeavors of a state that is victimized by colonial idealism. It would not be wrong to say that this story is a clear depiction of brutality and atrocity. King Leopold II is portrayed in the documentary who wanted to extend glory of Belgium and enforce power in the world by means of colonies. King Leopold II hoodwinked European nations that give him the potential to control Congo and lay down the foundation of phony treaties with African chiefs. He aimed at bringing civilization to the Dark Continent with a hidden aim to make money. It added in the exploitation of Congo that continued for the time span of forty years and created a gigantic slave labor camp. This documentary comprises of the excerpts from the novel of Conrad as an evidence of the nightmarish entailments of the impact of Leopold’s bench men. The documentary reflects the history of Belgium in terms of the Colonial rule .It is an expression of scenes that have a mock court where people who witnessed brutality gave testaments. The video is a detailed entailment of the catalogues that uncover murder and torture that occurred in Congo. In accordance with the visuals, it can be asserted that documentary reconstructs and highlight certain events that paved the way for the death of about 10 million Congolese. Although these events have been forgotten by the government officials such as Democratic Republic of Congo especially Britain. The video aims at the display of crimes on the central stage by using archived photographs and certain reconstructions that can depict and highlight terror inflicted by the Belgium colonists.
The horror of the colonial rule in the Congo is highlighted by the testimonies of missionaries and humanitarians. This documentary is more like a serious threat into the eulogy of white Europeans who saved Black people in Congo. It is asserted that Belgium was not the only colonial power that was the tool to exploit Africa; in fact it is a depiction of exploitation that highlights former European powers. It is asserted that under the control of King Leopold II of Belgium, Congo was turned into a labor camp which was home to shocking brutality. Apparently, Leopold presented himself as a protector of the African people who migrated and fled the Arab slave-traders but in reality he was carving out an empire that could be based on the strong basis of terror in order to harvest rubbers. It has been highlighted that that whole scenario was more like a tragic play in which people were treated as puppets in the hands of the power who have sole aim of exploitation. It is significant to note that families were held as “hostages”. An individual was forced to death if they failed to produce enough rubber. Even children were not saved the brutality of the king, taking into account that the hands of children were chopped off as a punishment. If children were accustomed of late deliveries they were enforced to die in pain of chopped of hands. Their hands were presented as chocolate.
It would not be wrong to say that the area was turned into a labor tunnel, in which all the villages were brought to end; taking into account any negation by the locals to work for invading entrepreneurs would lead to death and destruction. The images of skinny bodies and scenes of flesh reminds of the brutality of the king for the sake of materialistic desires. The stance of destruction with which families were doomed to death for the sole reason of not fulfilling the required task and the implantation of “hands”, laborers illustrates the atrocity of the ruler. It can be inferred that the population of Congo was reduced to the ratio of 50% adhering to the fact that many of the regions were eradicated with 80% population, laborers died under the influence of hard labor, taking into account that the tasks were void of factors such as age, health and gender. The stance of the blood project, started by King Leopold was left under the deep layers of secrets until a shipping clerk who was named Edmund came to spot that there are some irregularities in the documents of import and export, considering that there was a large proportion of goods that were sent from Belgium to the Congo as compared to the past records and a comparative analysis. Although the king escaped the terrible punishment of his crimes, still this documentary is a stance of stand and trail that could consider him as a subject to listen to all the violence and death as a result of colonial schemes. It is significant to note that Bate uses several severe tools of tabloid television that could make him impart an ominous, overly dramatic and heavy named narration that could be delivered in a voice shaking with rage.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, it could be highlighted that the documentary is the pictorial display of the brutal dealing of the people living in Congo, taking into account that Bate uncovered a highly disturbing and ignored reality, adhering to a dispassionate approach. It would not be wrong to say that the display of horrific facts infer the pathetic and heart breaking scenario of Congo by Leopold II.
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