How did WWI impact Africa according to Nar Diouf, army veteran of a French West African regiment in the passage below?

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How did WWI impact Africa according to Nar Diouf, army veteran of a French West African regiment in the passage below?

My experience in the war gave me many lasting things. I demonstrated my dignity and courage,
and I won the respect of my people and the [French colonial] government. In the years
immediately after the war, whenever the people of my village had something to contest with
the French-and they didn't dare do it themselves because they were afraid-I would go and
take care of it for them. And many times when people had problems with the government, I
would go with my war decorations and arrange the situation for them. Because whenever the
French saw your decorations, they knew that they are dealing with a very important person. So
I gained this ability-to obtain justice over the Europeans-from the war. For example, one day
a French military doctor was in our village, and there was a small boy who was blind. The boy
was walking, but he couldn't see and he bumped into the Frenchman. And the Frenchman
turned and pushed the boy down on the ground. And when I saw this, I came and said to the
Frenchman: "Why did you push the boy? Can't you see that he is blind?" And he looked at me
and said: "Oh, pardon, pardon. I did not know. I will never do it again, excuse me!" But before
r, it would not have been possible for me to interact like that with a European, no matter
e had done.
Students write your response!
Pear Deck interactive Slide
Transcribed Image Text:My experience in the war gave me many lasting things. I demonstrated my dignity and courage, and I won the respect of my people and the [French colonial] government. In the years immediately after the war, whenever the people of my village had something to contest with the French-and they didn't dare do it themselves because they were afraid-I would go and take care of it for them. And many times when people had problems with the government, I would go with my war decorations and arrange the situation for them. Because whenever the French saw your decorations, they knew that they are dealing with a very important person. So I gained this ability-to obtain justice over the Europeans-from the war. For example, one day a French military doctor was in our village, and there was a small boy who was blind. The boy was walking, but he couldn't see and he bumped into the Frenchman. And the Frenchman turned and pushed the boy down on the ground. And when I saw this, I came and said to the Frenchman: "Why did you push the boy? Can't you see that he is blind?" And he looked at me and said: "Oh, pardon, pardon. I did not know. I will never do it again, excuse me!" But before r, it would not have been possible for me to interact like that with a European, no matter e had done. Students write your response! Pear Deck interactive Slide
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