The Foreign Press Association Africa has slammed media outlets using images of black people with the stories of the monkeypox outbreak in North America and the United Kingdom. Last week a number 0f countries in Europe reported the outbreak of Monkeypox but most of black people alongside the stories of this outbreak.
OUR STATEMENT:
The Foreign Press Association, Africa registers its displeasure against media outlets using images of black people alongside stories of the #monkeypox outbreak in North America and the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/u32yWLELJg
— The Foreign Press Association, Africa—FPAA. (@FPA_Africa) May 21, 2022
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Monkeypox is a zootonic disease caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopox virus genus in the family Poxviridae. As any other disease, it occurs in any region of the world and affect anyone regardless of race.
Foreign Press Association Africa said its disturbing for European and North American media outlets to use stock images bearing persons with dark or black and African skin complexion to depict an outbreak of the disease in the United Kingdom and North America.
“We condemn the perpetuation of this negative stereotype that assigns calamity to the African race and privilege or immunity to other races. What is the convienience of using such images to tell the world how Europe and America are reeling from the outbreak of monkeypox? Is the media in business of preserving ‘White Purity’ through ‘Black criminality or Culpability?,” said Foreign Press Association in a statement.
They further said that they find these actions very insensitive and lack dignity and empathy to black and brown skinned people suffering from the disease.
https://twitter.com/Victor_MKH/status/1528030003690094592?s=20&t=azXL3_KkKLMtGWCUhpr2kA
