Missionaries accidentally created Africans who demanded equality and political rights

Evidence

As the few existing studies of native court records show, educated Africans in particular were quick to see in the native justice system an opportunity to challenge the authority of the French and their collaborators. For the great majority of Africans the results were more mixed. “The natives tolerate easily enough the change in their traditions,” a frustrated administrator wrote in 1924, “but they do not understand it and remain opposed to it in the depths of their conscience.” — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 451 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Scientific, anti-slavery, and missionary societies pooled Africa intelligence; Roume first proposed citizenship for certain Africans under French rule; British abolitionism relied on explorer networks and missionary stations in Africa. (+2 more)

Related

• Educated Africans used French native courts to challenge colonial authority (similarity 0.84)
• Missionary-educated Africans were resented by colonial administrators for demanding rights (similarity 0.82)
• French officials feared emancipation ideas would incite educated Africans to seek leadership (similarity 0.81)
• Mission-educated Africans became politicized and challenged colonial rule (similarity 0.81)
• Missionary-educated Africans became politically demanding and threatened colonial administrators. (similarity 0.80)
• French-educated African clerks became colonial critics, not loyal servants (similarity 0.80)
• Colonial administrators saw citizenship-by-birthright as an arbitrary and dangerous precedent dividing Africa. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Missionary-educated Africans became politically demanding and threatened colonial administrators. #corroborates (1.00)
• Educated Africans used French native courts to challenge colonial authority #exemplifies (0.70) — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 451