Lisa Shannon

I have difficulty reading memoirs of Western women experiencing the reality of violence in the global South. I have no right to say this, mind you. I am a Western woman...a white woman on top of that. I tread lightly in what I am about to say, mainly because I know that I could be labeled a hypocrite. With that danger in mind, I will proceed to trumpet the efforts and determination of Congolese women. I have been to the eastern Kivu provinces and while I learned much, what I learned most of all is that Western women need to stop depicting Congolese women as victims. Shannon's account does bring out the strength of women...but not the strength that shows that Congolese women are organized, they do fight against what is happening, they do rescue each other, they are capable of running NGO's, hospitals, schools, food pantries...all without manipulating and asking for money in a constant stream as Shannon writes. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to Eve Ensler, Alice Walker, and others to STOP!!!!!!! Congolese women have always been politically active and committedly strong throughout the country's long history of adversity. There are AMAZING grassroots women's organizations that are struggling to compete with Shannon, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, and other Western-run, international orgs for money. The DRC is the country of the Congolese...they insist they have the knowledge and the ability to stop the war and rebuild. That is the story I want to hear. I want to hear about the Congolese women in Portland, Oregon (THEY ARE THERE, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM, THEY HAVE ORGANIZED TO HELP THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME), who have organized to run a marathon to send money to the DRC - not Shannon. Strangely, Congolese organizations in the U.S. are never heard from. Perplexing to say the least.… (más)

I can say with confidence that this is one of the most abysmal books I've ever read. I read this last year and am just now writing a review on account of how angry it made me. If you're looking for a prime example of self-important white people traveling to war-torn nations they know nothing about to save the helpless, suffering villagers with their money and whiteness, this is the book for you. Our great hero sees an Oprah special on the brutalities taking place in the DR of the Congo and decides she is the perfect person to make a difference in this dark place! Lisa Shannon raises some money by running 30 miles and then sets off for a dangerous country she knows nothing about and doesn't speak one word of the language in order to save the Congolese women by giving out hugs and cash. Tack onto this a few poorly translated and butchered Swahili phrases that she was too lazy to check the spelling of and a seemingly endless list of specific atrocities she essentially bullies women into revealing to her and we arrive at Shannon's dismal, embarrassing memoir.… (más)