Africa is home to some of the oldest civilizations on Earth. Yet, by all metrics, it is the poorest continent. Whether it is GDP per capita, life expectancy, political freedom or literacy rates, Africa ranks dead last. Why is this? The answers you will often hear are white (European) colonialism, racism, corruption, lack of unity, instability and lack of resources. There are elements of truth to some of these, yet the reasons you often hear from today’s mainstream historians and race hustlers are misleading. For one, Africa is a continent, not a unified nation of people. There are 54 recognized countries in Africa, each with its own unique circumstances. I’m going to take an in-depth look at all of the perceived causes of poverty and use statistics from individual nations to challenge each.