Kony2012 and the LRA: New Educational Materials

In response to the explosion of campus interest in the Kony2012 video and the "Cover the Night" event this weekend of the Invisible Children organization, several Africanists have prepared new educational materials to promote more accurate understanding of the situation in Uganda and Central Africa and the LRA.

The 11-page packet “React and Respond: The Phenomenon of Kony 2012” can be downloaded free at http://bit.ly/I1a0AU . It includes an overview of the LRA situation, guides for teachers about stereotypes and critical thinking about Africa and media literacy regarding the Kony 2012 video, “What can we do about Uganda and the LRA?,” and a resource list. Please share it with high school and middle school teachers – and college students - you think might use it. The National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) is publishing a shortened version in the May-June edition of “Social Education,” which has 17,000 subscribers. The packet was created by the Outreach Directors at the Boston University and Michigan State University African Studies Centers, Barbara Brown and John Metzler, with Christine Root from the Association of Concerned Africa (ACAS).

See also the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars’ "Statement to the U.S. Government about the Lord’s Resistance Army and Central Africa" which is on ACAS’ extensive resource list on this topic at: http://concernedafricascholars.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ACAS-Press-Release-3-15-12.pdf .

Also, a group of young scholars has organized a petition campaign advocating to Obama against a military solution. See "Uncover the Night" (http://uncoverthenight.tumblr.com ) and on Facebook.

Wiley, D. WEB: Kony2012 and the LRA: New educational materials. H-AFRICA listserv (H-AFRICA@H-NET.MSU.EDU, 23 Apr 2012).