Reddit reviews Congo: The Epic History of a People

I have to thread lightly here, because i'm not an expert, but i'll try to answer:

First of all, you have to see him in his own context and try not to judge by current (modern) standards. Every Western country was taking part in the Scramble for Africa, and it's not that hard to imagine that none of the participants had the wellbeing of the native population as their prime concern.

Secondly: Yes, there was wide spread abuse, atrocities, killings,... Yes, as the founder and sole owner of Congo Free State, he is/was without any doubt partly responsible. Yes, economic gain was the first goal, human rights were often not even considered. BUT: was it genocide... (and here is the controversial bit): in my humble opinion: no. Was it mismanagment and grave negligence and whatever: perhaps. But as always with history, it isn't simply a black and white story, there is always lots of nuance.

Like i said: i'm no specialist. A very interesting read about Congo (and the role, both good and bad, Leopold played) is this book.

Most of the people there were still in the Iron Age. This is a amazing book on the subject, filled with first-hand accounts. The writer made it his life's work, going to villages all over Congo to gather first-hand accounts of what happened, and how the Congolese perceived it all.

http://www.amazon.com/Congo-History-David-Van-Reybrouck/dp/0062200127

You can start there

Nah man i read 3 books about it, from different authors. Stop being a little r/imnotlikeothergirls by trying to look cool for dismissing the norm. Your source is a extremely biased website made for people desperate to be part of some backwards movement.

Edit: read a book

• Congo: a history
  
• King Leopold's Ghost
  
• [From the ruins of empire](http://From the ruins of empire)