Behind the Bastards

Part Two: King Leopold II: The First Modern Bastard

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Jun 14, 2018
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ANECDOTE

Williams Exposes Leopold

  • George Washington Williams, a Black journalist, exposed Leopold's brutal rubber regime in the Congo.
  • Williams discovered that many chiefs were tricked into signing treaties with magic tricks, including electric buzzers and magnifying glasses.
ANECDOTE

Morel's Discovery

  • Edmund Dene Morel, an amateur journalist, discovered Leopold's crimes while working for a shipping line.
  • Morel noticed that only rubber left the Congo, while guns and money entered, sparking his investigation.
INSIGHT

Early Activism

  • Morel's newspaper and the Congo Reform Association represent an early form of investigative journalism and human rights activism.
  • This highlights the potential for these platforms to expose and challenge powerful figures.
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