Colonization of Africa by European countries has had an engrossing impact on the continent. From bringing in diseases to establishing key infrastructure, colonialism has created this everlasting effect that still has a significant influence on African societies today. The issue of race, however, can be contested whether it is indeed significant or not. Many African societies exist with tensions about the issues of racism and this paper will illustrate, that racial thinking emerged only from a colonial context. Firstly, it is important to provide a contextual background of the current state of European powers, and the several aspects that led the Colonial powers to "develop" Africa. Secondly, the impact of colonial powers creating colonial states and the depredation it had left on African minds, identity and people. In addition to that, the colonial missionaries and schooling system is an important political instrument to look at when evaluating racial thinking in Africa. Finally, key colonial powers within African regions will be analysed in order to demonstrate the emergence of racial thinking within these specific regions. .
Europe's Interest in Africa .
Before looking at the nature of racial thinking, the question needs to be asked: Why was Europe interested in Africa, in the first place? It can be apparent, that virtually all colonial powers had colonial missions. Many scholars believe that after the abolishment of slavery, colonial powers were looking for new markets. This is one of the many factors that could have contributed to colonial powers expanding into Africa. There cannot just be only one element to this complex history. Mark Twain provides a justified starting point: "The lack of money is the root of all evil." European powers became more interested in Africa because of the concerning nature of the European economy. Europe has just suffered the economic depression and thus an individual wants and needs start to intensify, and the competition for new resources i.
