Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind

For many Americans the mention of Africa immediately conjures up images of safaris, ferocious animals, strangely dressed "tribesmen," and impenetrable jungles. Few think to question these perceptions or how they came to be so deeply lodged in the collective American consciousness. Curtis Keim's Mistaking Africa looks at the historical evolution of this mindset and examines the role that popular media play in the creation of our mental images of Africa. Keim addresses the most prevalent myths and…