About

General:

This Blog is dedicated to under represented and under reported stories especially about Rwanda, plus other discussions and commentary about Africa and the African diaspora including but not limited to issues of race and gender in the media. However, there are no limits to what will be posted, and discussed. Whatever I feel like talking about, is what I’m going to talk about.

On Rwanda:

The story of what happened in Rwanda (you know…minority tutsis were butchered by majority hutus simply because of their tutsiness) has been distorted and the truth unbelievably covered up, that few people in the general population know what actually happened, other than what was MISreported in the NYT and similar publications/books; an unfortunate occurance for those who care about historical accuracy, social justice, human rights, and peace and reconciliation. Basically, if you heard about it in mainstream news, then half the truth had been blurred out. Why? To find that out, you should continue to read this blog.

My blog focuses and primarily reports and discusses the Rwandan side of the story not widely heard in large media outlets. If it seems one sided, that’s because it is. There are enough places to discuss that which you heard on CNN or BBC, and this blog is not one of them. But you’re more than welcome to discuss what you read here and underrepresented sources that attempt to set right the historical record.

Before you get your panties in a bunch (I’m talking to you men too!), here are things I believe:

• During the “genocide” period, both Hutus and Tutsi were killed. A very large number of Tutsis were killed, as was a very large number of Hutus.
• Probably the most contested item on this blog, and the most well hidden reason why “all the killing” happened is the Rwandan Patriotic Front (Tutsi Rebels), and the current Rwandese government.
• One thing that is still unclear is how to classify what happened. Was it a double genocide? Simply a politicide? Or both genocide and politicide?
• At this point, it’s been established that both Hutus and Tutsis played the attacker and victim in the matter. Which means, I don’t subscribe to the notion that if the events are classified as genocide, it’s exclusively genocide against Tutsis nor the fact that only the RPF committed massacres.
• Reasons for why “all the killings” happened in 1994 vary widely. I also don’t subscribe to the notion that people were simply targeted exclusively because of their ethnic groups. There were other political, and social factors that played a much bigger role, and ignoring these factors does a serious injustice to the story and the historical record.
• In many other cases, people were targeted based on their ethnic groups especially in the early 1990s, and after 1994.
• And while I believe all that stuff now, there’s still a lot of research to be done, and hidden corners to uncover. Simply put, my views on the matter may or may not change (just don’t think you’re changing my mind by telling me that it was just the tutsis and moderate hutus who died, and how the whole country was saved by the tutsi rebels – that view is a definate HELL NAW).

I understand if you find this information shocking even offensive. But when you finally (if you ever do) realize how the information has been distorted and misreported, you may find yourself even more appalled at how people could have let it get this far and why people were lied to, and misled, and all that good stuff.

Caveat: This is NOT a hate blog. I will not tolerate hate speech of any kind, or mostly ignorant comments. Comments are moderated. There’s just no room for ignorance or hate.

To contact the blogger, please email: backtomyrootsblog at gmail dot com. Happy blogging!