Leopold II of Belgium: The Biggest Coverup In European History

[@Biographics]

Hello everyone. We've been experimenting with a bit of a podcast (a few people were asking for audio versions so they can get Biographics while doing other things)! Fair warning: none of these are new biographies, but rather me having a bit more of a free form chat around the script. I'd love to know what you think, if these are useful, wanted etc :). Thanks, Simon. Links: iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time/id1450405839?mt=2 Sitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time Website: biographics.blubrry.net/ RSS: biographics.blubrry.net/feed/podcast/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6N9PS4QXF1D0OWPk0Sxtb4 Trolled people: open.spotify.com/show/0JzjzwJcRqFZ3BcACtahh8?si=MG5HSm1oT0GTNm_r8_HQcg

[@zenferg]

Please do a Bio of Hypatia of Egypt

[@spectrum3808]

Bringing christianity to those poor godless souls.... Sooo much sarcasm. also, this is probably the only time a magician conquered a nation. well, maybe second if you count rasputin.

[@zacharyhughes3053]

You missed an opportunity to take a shot at the EU! Brussels is still enslaving people to this day!

[@levinoure9867]

Please do jacques de molay

[@karsten9895]

Why don't you address the criticism of the lies in this video first? You lied in saying that the Belgians are allegedly 'covering up' those crimes, whereas they are for decades part of the school curiculum! Address this first and apologize for the slander!

[@HarJBeRw]

As a belgian having lived in Belgium my entire life I can tell you every single Belgian knows what Leopold did in the Congo, it is very much public knowledge.

[@HarJBeRw]

@@ellsworthm.toohey7657 dad's belgian and as white as Simon here , mum's as black as africans get - love and visit both places but no reason for me to leave my fatherland

[@HarJBeRw]

@@ellsworthm.toohey7657 rise where it's easiest to do, help once you can - i'll stick with my belgian brothers thank you very much - wbu, where are you going to be helping the world you selfless soul??

[@Cappinator]

@@ellsworthm.toohey7657 Seriously?

[@Kekorast]

@@HarJBeRw , My respects! Good reaction!

[@jasperknaepen1044]

HarJBeRw as a belgium bro, you are very much wqnted here!

[@jazzman5115]

When I visited Belgium and attended a city tour of Brussels, the crimes in Congo under Leopold II was one of the first things we were told.

[@BineroBE]

It's public knowledge and we are taught in schools. The premise of the video was a bit off. It is not a cover up at all.

[@MrGeocidal]

Yes but the Biographics KZbin channel never lets the truth get in the way of a good story

[@eunicegogbeu6921]

I think what he means is that at the time people were clueless

[@callumr3237]

Ngl I heard of it in “we didn’t start the fire” by billy Joel

[@karsten9895]

@@eunicegogbeu6921 No. He's clearly using the present tense.

[@Sophiedorian0535]

Belgian schoolmarm here. I was taught in school about the Congo for the first in 1968, in first grade. The official story back then was exactly as Simon described it. Ten years later, when I was in 10th grade, class went on a visit to the Museum of Central Africa at the Estates at Tervuren, near Brussels. Our guide was a Jesuit missionary priest. We skipped the exhibits about the Leopold II era and went straight for the Congolese art. Again ten years later, in 1988, I was teaching in Brussels (not history), and had a peek at the history books for 5th grade. The contents had dramatically changed. They contained the truth. One teacher started his lessons about the Congo with "What Hitler was for the twentieth century, our own King Leopold II was for the nineteenth." It is true that Leopold II of the Belgians run his 'Congo Free State' as private property. It wasn't a Belgian colony until 1908. It was a private enterprise until then. Leopold had the controlling share, but the other large shareholders had been rich US senators. Leopold had to allow protestant missionaries, even Mormon ones, to the Congo on their request. The Belgian Catholic missionary organisation was kept out of the loop by Leopold. He didn't want them there. They might inform the Belgian public and make the king look bad. Belgian journalists weren't welcome there, either, for the same reason.The United States was the first country to recognise Congo Free State as a legitimate country. Please Simon don't link Leopold's childhood trauma to the way he ran the Congo. He was the king of a Liberal Constitutional Monarchy that relegated the king to a ceremonial role. He was envious of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and of all his other cousins that wielded real power. He wanted it, too. In the early sixties, the US and Belgium wanted to keep their control of the Congo's natural resources, after the independence. They supported a half crazy admirer of Leopold II by the name of Mobutu Sese Seko against the legitimately elected president, Patrice Lumumba. The CIA killed him, and the Belgian mining companies bankrolled Mobutu who remained dictator of the Congo for over 30 years.

[@Mopmipmup]

really interesting

[@Sophiedorian0535]

Remi Ots You are right of course. I was in catholic convent school. First there was this false heroism in he history lessons, then there was this gap: no more Leopold. Then came the secularisation of the Belgian education system and the history books were completely re-written. I remember the argument of the secularisation movement was: fact should be separated from opinion in the K12 curriculum. By that time I was already teaching music, and rebelling against the Catholic 'Regimented Music'. Truth is that Leopold kept the Belgians out of the Congo. The Congo Free State recruited colonial supervisors in the same way the French recruited soldiers for the French Foreign Legion. Malcontents from everywhere. Near-suicidal adventurers that knew they had to get rich fast, before they succumbed to some tropical disease. In 1909 the Belgians inherited a complete mess. That is when the cover-up started. Many Belgians have gone there to inspect the place, after Leopolds death, and it was the elected Belgian government that decided a cover-up was in order. So our culpability as a nation started with that cover-up, not with the atrocities that happened before Leopold sold the Congo to the Belgian people. I mean: Richard Nixon had to resign for having covered-up what happened at Watergate, in the early seventies. Our government was no less guilty in 1909, in that respect. We came, we saw, ... and we wished we hadn't come, then pretended we saw nothing. This attitude has remained with Belgian politics for over a century, already. Belgium was 'not guilty', of the atrocities, but as the nation inherited the responsibility for cleaning up the mess, its leaders decided to double down on the lies and secrets Leopold had started to put into the world, whilst the Belgian teachers and priest that were posted over there bungled away like boyscouts on a budget. Our politicians still have problems understanding the difference between culpability, accountability, and responsibility (Schuld, Aansprakelijkheid en Verantwoordelijkheid). I know Simon as an excellent scientist, but he is applying 'Biljarttafellogica' (Billiards Table Logic) on the subject of history. I didn't feel outraged, but I experienced trouble breathing, because of the double face-palm Simon's history buffery seems to provoke with me. He simple hasn't got what it takes. He is making an utter pillock of himself. The man is a didactic genius in the most difficult subjects, like sciences and math, but this Biographies thing is a right mess. I am a Marie Curie fan. I once started a lesson stating Marie Curie was the inventor of 'La Curiosité'. Without curiosity, there can be no science, right? I kept doing that spoof for years. Every year class woke up later and later to the realisation that I was shitting major bull! "I am a teacher, not a preacher! Followers and believers get out!" Have you seen Simon's piece on Marie Curie? Besides, we gave the Tommies a proper licking a couple of months ago, on the football field.

[@woooweee]

The contents have radically changed, or were they radically changed in the first place. Go further with the context Remi Ots, the revisionism we are seeing now fits an agenda, the numbers they are promoting are simply impossible. The alternative hypothesis's most recent video covers this exact issue.

[@TurkishRepublicanX]

Sophie Dockx did you watch the Alternative Hypothesis video on the subject? What do you think about it? is it possible that because of the cover-up and the loss of evidence our current understanding of the atrocities is a bit exaggerated?

[@axsp1480]

Talking about biased opinion, and then claiming the Flemish people were used as cannon bate during WW1... Sounds like good old Flemish nationalists propaganda based on a hoax that orders were given in French to poor Flemish soliders that did not understand the language. You should not drink the kool aid like this, and question what was taught you. It's funny because in my high school in Wallonia I was always been taught that the most sadistic and brutal generals in the Congo colony were all Flemish people. Sure they were probably francophones like all aristocrats, but they were definitely Flemish they told us. All this to make us feel less guilty about what happened in Africa and force us to put the blame on Flemish people.

[@bwuceli3801]

I was taught in elementary school that Leopold II was Belgium's greatest king, he gave his country the colonies. That was in 1990. I was taught in secondary school that Leopold II was a criminal who allowed unspeakable atrocities to be comitted and he even sponsored them. That was in 1998. I now teach the latter in my history classes myself. There has been a cover-up in the past but we're fully aware of what happened now. In fact, the only reason I was probably taught that in elementary school was because of the teacher who was very lazy and didn't want to offend the grandparents of his pupils (who couldn't care less about Leopold II anyway).

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

Hmm...this was a "cover up" imagine what was covered up in WW2...🤐 Hope you all love math as much as history! Winners write history and be sure it comes with the traditional good verse evil, when it is never that simple.

[@baldrick1485]

How easy to change views in eight years 180 degrees when there are no consequences. And you are proud of yourself?

[@alanbstard4]

a lot of it is rubbish. Leo didn't do the things they said

[@jonsimmons4150]

@@ItIsYouAreNotYour "WE FOUGHT THE WRONG ENEMY" -General George patton

[@adamlion3495]

@@baldrick1485 what ?

[@Attlanttizz]

I am from Belgium, and this video starts with a big lie already. Rest assured that we know full well what a monster he was. The fact that a lot of Congolese people had their hand(s) chopped off under his reign, that a lot of people got murdered and enslaved, is a blemish that we acknowledge without restraint.

[@RemixedVoice]

My opinion: That big lie is called clickbait.

[@romelnegut2005]

The belgians like you know that but others don't know this.

[@RegularMat]

Thats so good of you, if you are so enlighten why don’t you give back to Congo people what you stole, you know the live in perpetual misery?

[@FluffiestBunBuns]

I see. Well, in other places, it's never ever taught. I'm from America and the only reason i found out about him and his horrible deeds was from KZbin. You'd think it'd be more out there, something that's in all the history books.

[@Tom-pk4gl]

Didn't even know Americans learned anything besides their own history. Seeing as they are such arrogant peoples..

[@cheeseburgermovies]

Hi, Belgian here. We know full well Leopold II was a monster, and the only statue I know of him is on the coast in the city of Ostende. In fact, a lot of people are unhappy that the statue is there at all. A few years ago some protestors either cut one of the hands off the statue or painted it red, I can't recall. He's still one of the kings and because of that we can't just sweep him under the rug.

[@cheeseburgermovies]

@@baxterbates1248 Not all of us, but too many were. I'd like to think we are better now

[@baxterbates1248]

@@cheeseburgermovies Ok, minus a few

[@OjoRojo40]

Alo? T'as sûrement jamais été a Bruxelles. There is a Statue in Brussels.

[@cheeseburgermovies]

@@OjoRojo40 C'est bien possible, je ne l'ai jamais vu

[@DanielBuschkens]

@@cheeseburgermovies there is one in brussels close to porte namur

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

Biggest cover-up in Euopean history? I know from first hand accounts that the history of what Britain/England has done to Ireland for 800 years is barely ever mentioned in British schools.

[@marleyhill34]

I studied history up to degree level in the Caribbean and in the UK. Honestly there is so much history that it is impossible to cover everything at primary/elementary school and secondary/high school level. For example my high school did Caribbean and European History and another high school did Caribbean and American history. The topics are huge! At degree level I did international relations and picked Latin America as one of my modules. World history is vast and complex you could spend a life time studying it all. My Caribbean history went right back to before Columbus. How the Amerindians lived from North America through Central America to South America. That alone is probably about 1000 years and people are still doing archaeological digs and finding out more.

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

@@marleyhill34 Agreed 100% in general but when it's your own countries history you should learn it.

[@marleyhill34]

@@foxyboiiyt3332 I know but to be honest even in the Caribbean school I was in the majority of students dropped history just before their exams at age 14 when given the choice. Our history class size was about 10 in a year of 200 students. By age 14, we hadn't even covered the in's and outs of slavery yet. At age 14, we knew slavery existed but not why it started and ended. I suspect it is the same with British, Scottish, Welsh and Irish students. They know bits and bobs but chose different subjects like law, science, business, art for their exams at school. Then most parents shield children from human atrocities and evilness. They won't want it learnt at primary/elementary level. Age 12 and under.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

yeah but he is british, and brits like to use Belgium to get attention away from their own nasty stuff ;)

[@pingukutepro]

STFU everyone know what happened to Ireland. Even a remote country like me in South East Asian

[@Bizonize]

His statue was vandalized today and is broken down

[@braraa]

Too late

[@StorytimeBeaming]

Good

[@Athanatoi]

When a historical figure caused the third largest genocide in history but no body cares because the victims were blacks.

[@sjappiyah4071]

It’s Sad it took until now to have it tore down...

[@millionjakeus]

Unpopular opinion here but I feel like folks gotta get over this statue stuff cause history is history and folks getting all emotional and tearing down stuff is just kinda 1984ish ... most people understand nuance ... just saying

[@makerstudios5456]

“There’s nothing left for us kings but money!” Cry me a River.

[@IWanderedAsACloud]

Gone are the glorious days, when Monarchs led their people to glory and prosperity! Where are the Alexanders, the Cyruses and the Charlemagnes today! O, pitiful times are these we live in!

[@thunderbird1921]

Belgium MASSIVELY upgraded after Leopold II's death though. Albert I, the beloved "Soldier King", came to the throne.

[@stinkybutthole3765]

@@IWanderedAsACloud from the early kings up until today there are legends and there are tyrannical and/or incompetent leaders

[@John-PaulHunt-q3z]

Plays Belgium in Europa Universalis II and Victoria II once meme........

[@IWanderedAsACloud]

"For the love of money is the root of all evil." - 1 Timothy 6 : 10

[@thunderbird1921]

That quote from the Bible rings truer than ever today, across all cultures.

[@ebkikibo]

AND will be until this Ish is over. Praise Yahweh.

[@benjaminmendezz]

What about Abraham, Joseph, and Solomon. Biblical figures who were extremely wealthy.

[@alexgunawan98]

True, so why religion keep asking for money ?

[@captainlebowski241]

@@alexgunawan98 don’t know how it is in your region but our church uses the small donations for electricity, water and to buy the necessary foods to make the holy bread. Trust me they use it for what it’s needed for

[@Gertjan1302]

In Belgian classes is told that Leopold2 was a very bad king who only did afwul things to the people of Congo

[@tweetdezweet]

Must be a fairly recent thing, I am 40 and only learned about Leopolds crimes after I graduated... not a word about his crimes in school

[@simonverschoore4689]

@@tweetdezweet i'm 25 and they told us about the crimes.

[@tweetdezweet]

@@simonverschoore4689 Glad to hear that 'cause nothing worse than omitting important facts in history lessons!

[@thunderbird1921]

Good to know. What's key is we LEARN from this history, so it doesn't get repeated!

[@simonverschoore4689]

@@tweetdezweet there's also a considerable movement to "de-leopold-ize" Belgium, but to be fair i'm not a big fan. Erasing history is not the way to face wrongdoings. Take school children (not too young :D) to a massive statue of leopold, or to Ostend where he built a massive promenade and stuff, take them to the grandest of his projects and tell them what cruel things were done to make this possible. If we destroy our patrimony just because it was built more than a 100 years ago by a criminal, these things too will get forgotten over time. In my village in rural flanders we have a WW1 graveyard for german soldiers. We do remember both our heroes and our enemies, so that this might hopefully never repeat itself.

[@fluid1614]

And Hitler is seen as the biggest villain ever to mankind. Seems like Leopald has him beat 100 times over. Where are the Netflix doccies about him????

[@creature2479]

One was in a much shorter time period, and was more recent therefore better documented

[@justushollifield387]

@@creature2479 @fluid1614 plus you have the fact that his was economically motivated whilst the nazis were performing genocide. Its why we don’t put mao and Stalin in the same breath as hitler most times because for whatever reason people care why you mass murdered when it really shouldn’t matter

[@quietatse]

​@@creature2479 Nonsense. One killed blackk people and the other killed whyte people.

[@John-PaulHunt-q3z]

Most 19th century leaders were indeed worse than Hitler and Stalin ever were. The problem is Hitler and Stalin are what the west mainly the American/Hollywood led media portray the worst leaders ever were.

[@bigburd875]

"You didn't meet the rubber quota for this month, so I am going to remove your hands, so that you can never bring me any rubber ever again!" Seriously, he was just reducing his labor pool

[@wkdravenna]

Amen Teddy.

[@happysoul2545]

Sometimes they even cut off the hands and legs of the worker's children instead..... And then ate the remains....... I assure you I am not exagerrating

[@THEOZZYFUL]

Do you have any proof of this??? Happysoul?

[@happysoul2545]

@@THEOZZYFUL There is a photo taken of a man staring at the severed hand and foot of his five year old daughter. His name was Nsala and he was interviewed by the photographer and he explained that he had failed to reach the rubber quota for the day so his overseer had killed both his wife and daughter, eaten them, then gave back to him the severed hand and foot as a reminder never to fail his task for the day again.

@@happysoul2545 and they say hitler was the worst..

[@shoandutrieux9447]

As a Belgian, this is my experience on this subject: 1. I was taught about this in high school. 2. Our history class lasted 50 minutes, in that lesson we would address European colonialism. This video addressed more and in depth what Leopold did then I was ever explained in school. 3. Being interested in history, I researched more on my own, what this man did is unacceptable and the Congolese people are long overdue to receive compensation from both the Belgian state as well as the Catholic church. A lot of people forget the role the church played not only in covering up the Congolese genocide but also the repression of condoms during the HIV-crisis, destruction of native religions, ... In a final note: I am happy to be a Belgian in the modern era, I believe we should keep working to teach our history openly and without any censorship. As a country we should recognise and compensate the Congolese suffering and people. We should also stop investing in men like Kabila and Mobutu and let the Congo stand on her own two feet, without our constant meddling.

[@aia5524]

Humanity: Monster -> Monster but with mask

[@joregvds967]

@@VHARDJO Compensation for what? you do know most countrys have done similair things like this and have never compensated. Also we did help africa alot in this new age, people just have to forgive after a certain amount of time, life is unfair. we wouldnt be compensated aswell if it happend to us or most other countrys. everyones greedy well thats sadly how this world is. Self-interest.

[@thinkbetter5286]

@@joregvds967 How did you help them?

[@joregvds967]

@@thinkbetter5286 Allowing them to become europeans, free health care, a good life and secuirity. Cant get that in Africa, so yeah they should forget about the past since we have nothing to do with it now anyways.

[@tshabalala7]

@@joregvds967 Rubbish

[@gonaldocr24]

The greatest coverup is the one that never got discovered.

[@tarim2822]

As an African, with Congolese relatives the atrocities committed are much much worse. I've seen the effects first hand on the ground. The term ' Crimes against Humanity' was borne out of this era by American scholars travelling to the region at that time. Thank you for a great video!

[@jojotard5027]

Relatives so you have no congolese genetics. But whatsoever,Congo probably had the worst africa scramble ever

[@YankeeNationalist]

How did you see the atrocities first hand on the ground if these happened in 1905?

[@tarim2822]

@@YankeeNationalist if you read the comment it says the 'effects' of what happened. Something can happen in the past but its effects can still be seen and felt in the present.

[@alanbstard4]

during Leopold II reign there was only 7.90M population. Much of this video is intellectual nonsense. Much of the atrocities were traditional cultural and ritual punishments committed by congolese upon other congolese while Leo was in Belgium

[@Neqtunez]

@@tarim2822 could be said about cambodia and the khmer rouge

[@Youthure]

"In most Belgian school classes they will never hear the truth about King Leopold the Second... they will say slavery never happened in the Congo." Dear Simon, I can assure you that my history book in Belgian high school had very graphic pictures of the atrocities committed in Congo Free State. I am very disappointed in this subpar video. Saying Belgians generally aren't aware or in denial of the fact that Congo Free State was a personal slave colony of our second king, is admitting you either used bad sources or did bad sourcing. I am confident you didn't do this in bad faith. The false statements made in this video distract us from the crimes against humanity committed by Leopold II. It prevents us from having a fundamental discussion on that topic. That is sad to see. Especially since it wouldn't have been that much effort to fact check these statements. It is a shame that you (inadvertently) chose a certain narrative -- "the cover-up" -- over the facts. An unforgivable mistake from a journalistic standpoint if purposely. You can and must do better. Kind regards, Y.

[@crazyciler50]

Uhm I totally agree with you and all, and there was slavery in the Congo, but Leopold actually fought a war against that slavery, see Joseph lippens and Henri De Bruyne statue in Blankenberge t commemorate the casualties of that war. Leopold was a bad man but not a slaver. Fyi sorry for the spelling mistakes, I couldn't be arsed to check for any.

[@Zorro9129]

Also, why would white men have pictures taken of them standing next to natives with chopped-off hands if they were themselves responsible for this? Did they want to be cursed for their role in Europe? Rather, these pictures were calling to attention the very real problem of cultural practices common in the Congo-practices which still exist today.

[@Attlanttizz]

It is not the first time I'm watching a video from this channel and noticing factual mistakes, errors, or misleading statements. Bit bothersome, considering the number of people that know little about history and take these videos as facts. In a previous video I've already asked him to state the references on which his video is based on. Not a peep of course, this channel is a source of income and telling the truth might not be as profitable. Real sad. I think the bottom line is: if you want facts, don't get them from his videos. Research from independant historians, not from a source that does this just for profit.

[@bjornschievers1006]

Does he have a video about the American genocide of the natives?

[@M.S.G.95]

+Youthure This is probably the most eloquent comment I've seen on KZbin.

[@smartalek180]

"He is glorified with golden statues of his likeness in every major city in Belgium" Both of them?

[@miavonni]

Precisely, it's interesting how these more than likely liberal professors paint a picture, instead of saying in two major cities they say and every major city, I don't like slanted views like this.

[@yannicknaert]

smartalek180 Antwerp, Brussels, Brugge. That’s THREE major cities we have.

[@jonathanverbiest6859]

@@yannicknaert don't forget Gent, Dinat, and Leuven. Those are also major cities.

[@cornelisvreeswijk186]

@@jonathanverbiest6859 Dinant is not a major city. It's a small town. Liège, Namur, Mons and, although I hate to say it, Charleroi are also major cities.

[@bonoboner]

Which is the second major City? Haha

[@johnbailey2707]

How can a story about Leopold II's crimes not mention "The Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad?

[@ninoivanov]

john bailey Given it has the leading quote for Alien... 😉

[@matios83]

SILENCE I'M TERI BGG GUINN

[@paulian1888]

Yeah I expected him to mention it too

[@lawrencefrost9063]

Good point. But that book is "fiction". even if it is based on reality. I suggest a better one. "King Leopold's Ghost" It tells the reality. The reality of the situation was much more brutal than anyone has ever dared to write in fiction.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:00 - Chapter 1 - Early & personal life 3:25 - Chapter 2 - Building his fortune 6:55 - Chapter 3 - Colonization & exploitation 10:25 - Chapter 4 - Exposing the truth of leopold's lies 13:35 - Chapter 5 - A shocking legacy

[@izzylevi.]

much appreciated!

[@sjoncb]

The Belgium government owe reparations to the people of The Congo, return stolen museum artifacts, followed by a public apology and sincere regret.

[@carmelmulroy6459]

If Germany has to pay Israel ( which they should have) then Belgium should pay the Congo.

[@austingode]

Read ' The Scramble for África' it is the most revealing book about European colonialism in Africa

[@philipbond9896]

it didnt stop with africa did it look at what they did in south east asia . the instibillity lasted to this very day

[@richaffinito5112]

No such thing as a “revealing book about European colonialism” if you’ve ever read a history book.... they all tell the same story... you’ve just been trained to interpret them differently throughout different points in your life. Futhermore Leopoldo was right, Belgium NEVER would’ve gained respect from the rest of Europe wo an African colony. Period. Just like how the Spanish colonized the entire west and yet everyone blames “Europeans”. He merely joined in the race, he didn’t start it. Though his methods may not exactly be admirable, the fact he was able to convince the Congolese of all these ridiculous “feats” of white men is nothing short of astonishing

[@Chuck_Deuces]

@@richaffinito5112 Nothing about his life or what he did to the Congolese people is astonishing. He committed one of the worst cases of genocide in history and the Belgium government have yet to make amends for the millions murdered and possibly trillions of dollars in gold, diamonds and resources they stole and still profit from to this day.

[@brahimela5000]

H

[@draco_1876]

@@richaffinito5112 Your racism is astonishing

[@pjspam5563]

As a Belgian student I can say we do learn about the atrocities committed by Leopold II, also have I never heard or read something that praises his actions in school textbooks. This is just blatantly false information and I would like to see at least a disclaimer correcting this

[@drumguy1384]

I don't think they meant that it's still not known now, but that the lie was kept up (or at least swept under the rug) for such a long time, and happened long after slavery had been outlawed in the West. According to others, even though it is common knowledge now, it may not have been widely taught in Belgian schools until the 1970s or 80s.

[@wildhogs1ful]

it is not false and just because it is or is not in a textbook do not make it so. I was taught that Columbus DISCOVERED AMERICA AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IS A LIE. ALL OF YOU ARE ALIKE AND WILL NEVER EVER OWN UP TO THE THINGS YOUR ANCESTORS DID THROUGHTOUT THE WORLD.

[@drumguy1384]

@@wildhogs1ful What exactly are you saying isn't false? That Leopold II committed atrocities? (He did) Or that the Belgians don't admit it? (They do) Belgium appears to be doing exactly what you would want to be done about Columbus. Teaching about the bad things he did. Nobody in Belgium likes Leopold II anymore. pj wasn't defending Leopold II, he was defending the Belgian schools and Belgian people for teaching about him and rejecting him. What else do you want them to do?

[@KingofEuropa07]

@@drumguy1384 He used the present tense and literally said 'the Internet is making it harder for Belgium to ignore Leopold's crimes'. Did you not watch the video?

[@coreyjsilva3534]

Good for you holding them accountable

[@mvivid9755]

I live in Belgium for 7 years now and since my first year in Belgium (first year learning Flamish ) the school already teach me about King Leopold and all the shitty thing he did in the past. ( Christian School btw.) And no... Only big city have his status.

[@LennertTale]

Isn't it 'flemish'?

[@u_u-zzZ]

@@LennertTale No flame pls

[@LennertTale]

@@u_u-zzZ What

[@fightor]

Christian schools don't exist anymore in Belgium.

[@fightor]

@@u_u-zzZ He's just correcting her for a typo

[@JacF6734]

Congo Free State? More like Congo FREE REAL ESTATE.

[@isaiahprice9882]

😐

[@hueyfreeman1178]

@@isaiahprice9882 nice profile pic bra

[@thunderbird1921]

I prefer to call it the Congo Free Slave Labor State. Let's just call it what it really was.

[@b.g.r.andreverbrugghe4207]

True. Literaly even. When the country was the private property of Leopold II, multiple people had their share in the country. Even American senators. A lot of people got rich thanks to the Congos, but not the Congolese people, and also not most of the Belgian people. And even lees of the Dutchspeaking Belgian people.

[@Youthure]

Sure there are still too many statues of this guy, but as a Belgian I have never seen even one of those mentioned golden statues that are supposed to be "in every major city in Belgium". King Leopold II committed crimes against humanity for personal profit. No one can deny that. Simon is a great creator, but making it seem like Leopold II is a non-controversial, glorified and beloved person in Belgium is just wrong. We can always do a better job at remembering and educating the public, but there is a general awareness in Belgium that Leopold II committed atrocities in Congo and stating otherwise is misleading. We don't see him as a humanitarian at all, nor was it taught like that in schools in recent decades.

[@JanjayTrollface]

Can you name a city in Belgium without a statue or monument to Leopold?

[@Youthure]

@@JanjayTrollface Do you honestly expect people to know by hart which city in their country has which statues?

[@MrMarcmaster]

I live in Liège and don't recall any Léopold the 2nd statue in my city.

[@JanjayTrollface]

Youthure No, but it seems from your original post that you did. So I just wanted to clear up that either you don't know what you're talking about, or you are not interested in what if you are saying is true or not. Which is it?

[@JanjayTrollface]

MrMarcmaster A quick google search reveals to me that there may be no statues or monuments to Leopold in Liege. Thank You for pointing this out.

[@red464]

"for thousands of years that territory had been conquered by nearby Netherlands, France, Germany, and Luxembourg"... I see so much wrong in that early sentence.

[@simetric6551]

Victor Madsen hahaha. Yes, and he forgot Spain

[@SvrWxArchive1807]

The correct sentence should be "Conquered by the Frank's, Germans, Burgundians, Spanish, Austrian, French, Netherlands"

[@MathijsIgnoul]

@@SvrWxArchive1807 One could argue that we are those Franks.

[@europeleeds]

@@SvrWxArchive1807 You forgot about the Norsemen.

[@pieterjan29]

Romans to. We where the bravest of all gaulls

[@warm_cup_of_battery_acid3672]

I have lived in Belgium my entire life and never was i told that i should glorify Leopold II. The public is well aware of his despicable acts and there is still a lot of negative sentiment around him

[@eichessdosted6019]

Warm_Cup_Of_ Battery_Acid but they are benefiting from his bad deeds of stealing the resources of Congo

[@lesleykramer7207]

@@eichessdosted6019 And they still sell chocolate treats in the shape of hands cut off at the wrist ...

[@ggh6572]

@@lesleykramer7207 what is your source on that?

[@evangelinewangari1124]

@@lesleykramer7207 😨😨

[@montjoiestdenis9788]

Bizarrement, quand on demande l'avis d'un docteur en Histoire comme le docteur Pierre-Luc Plasman, spécialiste de la question, les chiffres avancés par les enquêtes britannique sont très largement exagéré. Quand Léopold à su ce que faisait l'unique officier qui coupait les mains, il est entré dans une colère noir et il l'officier a été arrêter. Léopold n'a d'ailleurs jamais été au Congo de sa vie. Je te suggère vivement d'aller voir son interview sur BX1 qu'on trouve sur youtube facilement.

[@jimarichard]

I live in Belgium and have discussed this with my Belgian friends. I am told that for at least 20 years the real truth of what atrocities Leopold oversaw in in the Congo has been taught in school. The only issue I see is that Belgium hasn't removed all statues and monuments to him.

[@brunovandooren3762]

Yeah... but no. My daughter was taught in school only 2 years ago about Leopold 2. They still emphasized the humanitarian aspect and downplayed the genocidal aspect.

[@jimarichard]

Bruno van Dooren Interesting. I know some of the older generation don’t believe what he did. My mother-in-law doesn’t believe cut at all.

[@trishapellis]

@@jimarichard I finished high school in 2010 and was taught in depth about all the atrocities, and most of this comments section seems to agree with me. So we'll have to see if this is a regression in official study material, or just a teacher who themself was in school back when the lies were still taught and doesn't believe the truth, as you say. I know I was taught the terrible truth in school, but I have to admit I never even mentioned this to my parents - I guess I just assumed they already knew because I wasn't aware at the time that the curriculum had changed so much.

[@MortonT1958]

The problem with removing the statues is that over time it is like anything he did never actually happened.

[@sellah7885]

TERRORIST LEOPOLD 2

[@deborahkm.95]

As someone who is ethnically CONGOLESE by blood and heritage I thank you 🙏🏾

[@BigBoiTurboslav]

as someone who is ethnically MONGOLIAN by blood and heritage I love beef

[@niecey7155]

Zak Jansen you’re a fkn demon from hell you maggot eating slime!

[@niecey7155]

Zak Jansen go back to your caucuses cave! Where your ancestors came from! Leach

[@naimalus3827]

@Zak Jansen He will return the minute you go back to your father Satan you demonic creature.

[@richardwright1512]

Zak Jansen When you caucasoid’s cease pilfering bongo bongo land as you refer to it, then they might go back. America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (soon to be out) Canada, Alaska, Zimbabwe (your already out), when will your people go back to wherever you come from? I say wherever because your people are not indigenous to anywhere on this earth.

[@fainitesbarley2245]

What cover up? We know about it in the U.K. the Belgians know about it. Seems like it was just you that didn’t.

[@karsten9895]

Oh I think he knew also. He is just lying.

[@Vadegu]

It has been covered up as much as possible. I personally would believe my grandparents weren't taught on this matter (can't ask them cause I would have to dig then), but as today we all learn about it during history lessons.

[@nkolemalauni5131]

Considering I've grown up in a School system that still to this day hasn't included King Leopolds crime in their social studies syllabus but still talks about Hitler front and center I'd say yes, I only learnt about King Leopolds true story when I was around 18 and thats only coz of the internet, so better believe it was a FUCKING COVER UP.

[@karsten9895]

@@nkolemalauni5131 are you Belgian? I doubt it. It says something about the school system in your country (probably Zambia?) not the Belgian. Literally every Belgian commenting so far has confirmed that the claim the video makes - that Leopold's crimes are covered up till today in Belgium - is not true and that his atrocities are in fact are the first thing (or the only thing) they associate with him.

[@fainitesbarley2245]

Friendly Neighbourhood Zambian There is a lot of history in the world. Not knowing something at 18 that older Europeans all know about does not make a cover up. I suspect you have many more historical discoveries to make. I can recommend The Gulag Archipelago and The Washing of the Spears

[@ML-iw9zg]

From reading other comments, it would appear that the writers of this video made not just an error, but a COLOSSAL error in stating that the truth about Leopold II is not being taught in modern Belgian schools. I would suggest that in view of that, either the video should be completely re-edited, or a disclaimer correcting the mistake placed at the beginning and end.

[@kiDkiDkiD12]

Or the Belgians are still in denial...... That's what the comments are really saying

[@vanessadanso]

im sorry to bust your bubble, i was born and bred in belgium, and went to the most elite schools available, and no this part of "history" was not included in our curriculum

[@jameslegrand848]

@@vanessadanso Hey so I'm french and we were taught about this in class when we were kids. Also a know a few friends who also know about this since he was their king sooooo not sure which region your from (no I'm literally curious to know since my mates are from a few km form Brussels and it might just be the city education)

[@hagardeviking9314]

Belgians do not know the truth of Leopold II We are very well aware of our colonial past, even about the past of other great nations. Where the victors often write and distort history. What we also know is that the British empire was responsible for 70 million deaths worldwide during its full deployment (1487-1997). Is this not the biggest cover up in European history?! More than Hitler and Stalin together. Interestingly, an article in a British newspaper The Guardian, has pointed out that many people in Britain are simply not aware of the Empire's past because they are not taught about it in... SCHOOL.

[@sybrenlogghe8362]

@@vanessadanso And I will burst your bubble, I didn't go to a very elite school (which doesn't mean it wasn't a good school) and we spent multiple leasons on Belgians colonial history (including watching the famous documentairy White king, red rubber, black death ( or something like that) and I've gotta say in this part of Belgium we are very much aware of the horrors in the Congo..

[@uriahvoltairealt]

As an American I can say I was never taught this in school. I found it in an old college textbook on history that I got my hands on and was absolutely blown away by the loss of life. I proceeded to dig into the subject and found some great work. I particularly recommend The Crime of the Congo by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

[@tylersmith8038]

As an American you ain't taught anything to be fair. Except your Country History that is built on lies

[@baldrick1485]

We know that you are not taught in school.

[@Ndrangheta.M5]

Why is it that Americans want to be taught everything in history and nothing to do with math or geography

[@josephprendergast2420]

​@@baldrick1485 true I am from Jamaica and I went to school in America and have never thought this all I was told about is Hitler Hitler Hitler Hitler the evilest man in history and I've never thought us about Leopold of course not he wasn't evil he kills blacks.

[@Jacob-hz6jw]

​@@josephprendergast2420 Hitler is considered one of the most evil men who's lived, because he was a threat to the WHOLE world. Not because one dude killed white people, so he's bad and other dude killed black people, so he's good (wtf)lmao they both were absolute terrible people, who cares who is on top of the shitlist. That being said, Leopold should be taught about more in American schools.

[@ridureyu]

I recommend reading “King Leopold’s Ghost” for an in-depth account of the atrocity.

[@ktlcampbell8192]

Thanks for that piece of knowledge.

[@retepoteil]

Just read it. It was very informative and depressing

[@fredrikarrhen7058]

This is common knowledge in Europe, so the title is just wrong.

[@JohnMorley1]

Common knowledge and totally wrong. There were not ten million people living there.

[@AveryFB]

He is reffering to the covering up the things they doing there

[@xldjvista]

I went through the French education system and not one mention. I was in my mid 30s when I found out.

[@scheunbeek]

Well the French (if you are talking abojt wallonia) education system sucks

[@Prime-o8f]

It depends were. I'm from the UK, and we are not taught about this AT ALL. I would guess that the majority of people in the UK have never even heard the name Leopold.

[@stefanbraem]

I’m a Belgian and you can be sure we learn the truth about this man in school.

[@jimtim9586]

Well you weren't, you were taught propaganda but ok

[@KishorVR]

You did not study him in school. I am sure it was just a paragraph long and you did not know much.

[@Bob.martens]

Not in my 80s Belgium.

[@ru9014]

I LIVE IN BELGIUM AND I SAY YOU'RE WRONG

[@lordofdarkdudes]

As a swedish person we were never taugth this in school so its probly a belgium thing to learn about him. So thats our fault (sweden) for not teaching the kids about this horribel man

[@Rockhead84]

This story is absolutely crazy and heartbreaking. Thank you for making a video on it. I definitely learned something today

[@tryman2055]

Satan: I'm learning from Leopold II

[@montjoiestdenis9788]

Bizarrement, quand on demande l'avis d'un docteur en Histoire comme le docteur Pierre-Luc Plasman, spécialiste de la question, les chiffres avancés par les enquêtes britannique sont très largement exagéré. Quand Léopold à su ce que faisait l'unique officier qui coupait les mains, il est entré dans une colère noir et il l'officier a été arrêter. Léopold n'a d'ailleurs jamais été au Congo de sa vie. Je te suggère vivement d'aller voir son interview sur BX1 qu'on trouve sur youtube facilement.

[@draco_1876]

@@montjoiestdenis9788 what?

[@alexgunawan98]

satan never make tsunami and earthquake.

[@user-ry6ey8gq3t]

@@montjoiestdenis9788 merhi

[@isaacwalsh5031]

Not the best video for jokes😬

[@Garlic_bread_7012]

Just wanted to say that I learned about the Belgian kings in fourth fourth grade, which is 8 years ago, with the congolese history also and in highschool we learned more and saw a documentary about the mutilations and how people from Congo were brought to Belgium so they could show their "life style" in a museum

[@anto-sk4ce]

In italy we learn it in third year of high school

[@alanbstard4]

during Leopold II reign there was only 7.90M population. Much of this video is intellectual nonsense. Much of the atrocities were traditional cultural and ritual punishments committed by congolese upon other congolese while Leo was in Belgium

[@ankeeveraerdt4743]

As a Belgian history teacher, I can assure you that all my students know very well that Leopold committed all these crimes and where Belgium's wealth came from. As of now, I don't think there's any living Belgian who still believes thosd lies and are very well taught 'the real history'. It's a generalisation to make such claim of course, but in fact it's also a huge generalisation to claim us Belgians don't know what really happened. I do love the channel and it actually helped me in my history classes, but this was kind of upsetting and disappointing. It made me feel like Belgium is a backward nation... :/

[@elizabethfair7017]

Did it redeem itself by compensating the Congo,did it. If not it just might be a shity nation just like the United States

[@asedky]

very well argument accepted however did belgium redeem itself and compensate the congo???? i believe not. please also note the fact that your government and state continued these and many more atrocities until the early 1960s'.

[@ankeeveraerdt4743]

@@asedky I understand your point completely. And I am not saying anywhere in my argument that our government did redeem itself or compensated the DRC. Which I do firmly believe they should. It's just a shame the whole Belgian population is blamed, while many of us can't do a damn thing about it.

[@asedky]

@Anke Everaerdt the blame on the belgian people is limited to the responsibility of tolerating such - a big limitation though. although i do not like the comparison to nazi germany, as it would stretch the historic context, the german people carried the responsibility of the atrocities committed by their leaders, government and state. it is a perversion of history to see your king (a descendant of king leopold) and his wife, live an affluent life, claiming civility, benefiting from the riches, amaced from the congo and stacked away in switzerland. belgium is not isolated in having committed atrocities out of self interest. but its amazing history and culture should have compelled its society to stand up to its responsibility.

[@ankeeveraerdt4743]

@@asedky Look, I have no clue where you're from, but I do believe that as a single person you may voice your opinion, if the higher powers aren't concerned, that voice will get lost unfortunately. Such would be the case in your country as well. And if you disagree, than god bless the country you live in, because then you will have achieved true democracy. Again, and I can't state this enough, it's true that atrocities were committed and that many of people in charge of our country turn a blind eye. Also, as if I, a young "nobody" could change the past or actually change the point of view of our leaders?! No, many of us Belgians can't... Then, your comparison to Nazi-Germany. Take a history book and educate yourself! Sure, there are enough, as not the most German people who feel the blame. But so do we Belgians. But the common German can't change nor do something about it. And as a last note, my first reaction was completely different from what we are discussing now. You got sidetracked and only wanted to make me guilty for defending the fact that we DO know all of these monstrous crimes happened, which was clearly stated in the video we all seemed to be ignorant of that fact! The only ones pretending are those in power. So, I hope you know that I personally do feel sorry for all the suffering the Congolese people had to endure. If I could, I'd change what happened in an instant. So would I for many other African countries that suffered under European kolonialism.

[@elenamasen]

I recommend that everyone should read the book "King Leopald's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa (1998) by Adam Hochschild". One of the most horrific books I've ever read in my life. But I think it is important to read.

[@retepoteil]

I just read it. It was very informative and very depressing. Never heard of him before

[@eden9199]

very informative, but I can assure you that everyone one of us knows what happend there and that is was absolutely devastating.

[@DoctorUX]

so you are saying the whole population of the world know what the king did in congo!

[@eden9199]

ApexLegends TV nah nah when i said ‘everyone one of us’ i mean us Belgians, gosh barely anyone outside Belgium knows what he did (mostly cuz they don’t learn it in class cuz it’s not the history of their country i suppose)

[@HACFMS]

@@eden9199 it's a shame because it's as much of a genocide as the one in WWII, which is talked about in all schools, yet this one is left out. Dumb.

[@PhelanVanFloof]

@@HACFMS because it is less central to their history

[@PhelanVanFloof]

@@DoctorUX no, but does that really matter? all belgians still do.

[@benprewitt4600]

I'm American, and I've got to be honest...I'm not quite sure who you think this is covering this up. This is pretty well known.

[@abbaaminu6003]

Yes but people don't talk about it

[@TheConfederate1863]

Because everybody knows it.

[@henoktesfom996]

Ben Prewitt I think they meant during the time

[@c3s4r612mx]

Alot people don’t actually know about this, i just learned about this a couple years ago, they never taught us this in school like they do with the holocaust.

[@ChainsGone2012]

I never heard about this in school

[@afinoxi]

*"Yeah , imma just take Congo like I take my waffles."* -Leopold II

[@TeleportingBread161]

Takin it with the hands?

[@MikeC_BE_2870]

With whipped cream, strawberries, sugar and maple syrup?

[@titanicww2345]

Exploited and ravaged.

[@frogglen6350]

Your comment needs more thumbs up. Or at least thumbs

[@mystoftheraptor8622]

Handless

[@isaacwalsh5031]

I am from Europe (Ireland) and I have NEVER heard about him. Nothing in school textbooks, nothing in local libraries. It seems quite a big part of European history. I was very supprised when I found out about what he did.

[@isaacwalsh5031]

Shocking

[@nkeiruka5930]

Isaac Walsh because they cover it up so that no one should know about him. Very evil man

[@tinywhaleman8131]

@@nkeiruka5930 Yeah covered it up so good we made documentaries about it and showed on national television.

[@mingyuhuang8944]

​@@tinywhaleman8131This is why I hate it when Belgian people complain about Chinese "colonialism" in Africa these days. Like yeah China's improving Africa's economy and Belgium has them enslaved and hands chopped off all for fun 😢😢😂

[@Mizzledew]

​@@mingyuhuang8944 Has nothing to do with Belgian ppl.

[@alecb441]

I'm belgian and in my high school time I learned about this. None of the history classes watered this fact down luckily. I hope that's a consolation for those wondering if it's still denied.

[@montjoiestdenis9788]

Bizarrement, quand on demande l'avis d'un docteur en Histoire comme le docteur Pierre-Luc Plasman, spécialiste de la question, les chiffres avancés par les enquêtes britannique sont très largement exagéré. Quand Léopold à su ce que faisait l'unique officier qui coupait les mains, il est entré dans une colère noir et il l'officier a été arrêter. Léopold n'a d'ailleurs jamais été au Congo de sa vie. Si tu t'étais renseigner un minimum tu dirais plutôt de lui que c'était un roi batisseur, c'est lui qui a pousser l'urbanisme de la Belgique actuel et qui a construit les grands monuments. Je te suggère vivement d'aller voir son interview sur BX1 qu'on trouve sur youtube facilement.

[@radnasirhill]

High school, right? Not a word from your parents, grandparents, uncles other family members people around? What could be the reason for that?

[@AhmedElmanzalawi]

The real consolation happens when Belgium pays its debts for the intentionally impoverished Congolese.

[@kappalol8250]

@@radnasirhill Because not everyone talks about history. Like my parents never finished their education didn't pay attention in class why the f^ck would they be telling me about the belgian colonization in the congo if they couldn't even tell you when the ussr fell.

[@radnasirhill]

@@kappalol8250 why? Because your Belgian grandfather's use to chop off innocent fellows hand for not bringing enough rubbery stuff from the forest till 1964 my dear friends. People who did moved into our home after my elders deportation also dont like to mention that particular time in their history. Some nations are proud of their elders some are ashamed. How does Belgian olympians feel when they compete against sportsmans from Congo? Looking for a hole to hide?

[@stephanvandenadel4647]

Belgian here too; I'm 50y old and NEVER has Leopold II been glorified in any of my classes or any media whatsoever and we are full aware of the atrocities that were committed under his reign. BUT the British empire set up a very effective propaganda campaign to make sure the world knew about the horrors going on in the Congo. As a matter of fact ALL colonial powers were utterly racist and gruesome to all indigenous peoples all over the world, even down to the cutting of hands. I believe it was the British who wanted the congo for themselves but were thwarted cos he gave the Congo to Belgium and that improved the situation for the locals considerabley. I do hope that you take this video down and make a more accurate one... I'm VERY disappointed and must look at your vids, if at all, with a lot more sceptism because of the massive inaccuracy in this one!

[@bishop51807]

Now Belgians know there was a cover up but it had to be exposed like MK Ultra.

[@NovaSoldier]

thats not exacly true, since in italian colonies they natives had freedom of agrupation, of religion, scolastic freedom and laws regarding work that gave the natives far better working conditions than in other colonies

[@Bob.martens]

Not in my 80s Belgium.

[@SpenserRoger]

Stephan van den Adel Yes colonists were bad on certain personal basis' and in certain specific cases, (like this case for example) sometimes committing large crimes for a long running time, etc, however the more contact Africans had with colonists, or the more heavily an area was colonized the richer the Africans became and the better their outcomes.

[@meginna8354]

Retarded comment, you went over the top. Most colonial powers were not bad and only really improved living standards

[@jorishuysmans5405]

I graduated high school in Belgium back in 2001, so it is fair to say that I spent most of my years in school without the internet as we know it today. And yet nothing in this video is new to me. We were taught by our history teachers precisely what an atrocity Congo Free State was. And even though de situation improved after the Belgian state took over, we explored in depth the perversity of what then still was a colonial state. I'd label this video pretty accurate, though your claim that the Belgian population or the state prefers to cover this up even to this day, is simply dishonest. From my grandfather who spent a couple of years as a railroad technician in Congo to pretty much every teacher I ever had, they all made it very clear that what happened in the colonial times, is something that needs to be told, and it is anything but a source of pride. I'd even go as far as to say we did a better job accepting the atrocities of 'our fathers' as regretful truth than a lot of other countries did.

[@sjoncb]

The Belgium government owe reparations to the people of The Congo, return stolen museum artifacts, followed by a public apology and sincere regret.

[@S-Christ]

@@sjoncb the government and its people today dont owe the congo anything anymore. The people now have nothing to do with what happened there in the past, even the common people then had nothing to do with it and dont believe the idiot in this video, generation after generation, everyone living here knows exactly what monstrous things happened in the congo under leopold 2. It is most definetly taught in school.

[@S-Christ]

@@sjoncb besides, since you dont know, for years and years the biggest part of belgian humanitarian aid has gone to the congo, since 2018 that amount is about 25.000.000 euro a year

[@S-Christ]

@ric Gikonyo love your logic but that number is only since 2018 and each year, not belgiums fault that you keep having 'leaders' that dont care about there people and only care about there own bankaccount🤷‍♂️

[@chebochebo3058]

So why the statues of praise

[@Dejiwe]

You can read books of a Congolese jurist from Lubumbashi, Marcel YABILI. He was 15 years old at independence and he has thus known the last years of Belgian presence. Unlike many foreign authors, it takes into account the oral tradition, still very important in DRC. He quotes LUMUMBA himself about Leopold II. Mr YABILI talks about the origins of severed hands. Volume 1 is available in English but the others two are available in French.

[@fej426]

Belgain here, we know about what he did we just don't talk about it

[@jamesfrost2032]

Silence can be as bad as denial.

[@Samm815]

Correction: They don't talk about it in front of foreigners. And they don't talk about it (outside history class) with each other because it's too depressing.

[@minimax9452]

German here, we choose an other way to face our history.

[@AholeAtheist]

Why?.. Because if you did you would have to admit that your nation is a bourgeois abomination that never should have happened, and Flanders and Willonia should be repatriated to their rightful nations?..

[@seppoleonvervloet132]

@@AholeAtheist but what about the Brussel Capital area

[@brentgranger7856]

My exposure to this story came from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," which I read while at the university. Certainly a great read for anyone who has never read it or wants to get the full story from the most well-known film loosely based on this work, Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now."

[@dangerouslysane]

Also-"King Leopold's Ghost", by Adam Hochschild. Absolutely harrowing.

[@bisurker]

Yeah, didn't like the book the first time I read it, but appreciated it on the next. I wouldn't say it's a "good" book, but it was informative.

[@woooweee]

Watch the alternative hypthesis's video on it. The "full story" is rarely ever told.

[@Zorro9129]

"Heart of Darkness" is a great work of fiction. Emphasis on fiction.

[@sjoncb]

The Belgium government owe reparations to the people of The Congo, return stolen museum artifacts, followed by a public apology and sincere regret.

[@YnseSchaap]

This is a piece of European history I was never taught about in school ( from Holland)

[@YnseSchaap]

Ik ben reeds jaren op de hoogte van de zwijnerij 😁

[@karsten9895]

Maybe you just didn't pay attention?

[@YnseSchaap]

My school days were ages ago but history has always had my interest so it was one of the few subjects I payed attention to

[@karsten9895]

Ynse Schaap o.k., explanation accepted! I cannot dispute your personal experiences. It is just that to my knowledge the atrocities of Leopold II are generally a well known historical fact. As far a I remember I read about it by Mark Twain (who campaigned against the atrocities in the Congo Free State) as a very young boy. My parents considered everything by Mark Twain suitable children's literature. But I also learnt about it briefly in school later - in the GDR - and later again when I went to "evening school" as an adult in the unified Germany (in former West Germany in Hesse, I did my "Abitur" there), I noticed that this was also taught (again, briefly, you know that we need much space for the criminal past of our own nation in our school curriculum) in history class lessons. But you see that the overwhelming majority of Belgians commenting here give credible testimony that the claim this is still "covered up" today there, as stated explicitely in the video, is a blatant lie by the video creator. Historical truth is important as is the history of colonialism and its ongoing implications. Awareness about it and about racism is important, but that should never be an excuse for telling such blatant lies about other nations. It is by the way counterproductive to effectively teaching about colonialism and racism.

[@YnseSchaap]

Dutch history is also written in blood and slavery and is not or almost not taught in schools at least not my generation, what the education on this subject is today I'm not sure but it won't be extensive. I had the luck of a progressive mother and an uncle that fought in Indonesia right after the second world war who told me a lot about the atrocities the Dutch committed there. No Europeans history is without guilt

[@loretta_3843]

I was speaking to my mum the other day, she was a child during WWII (Italian) and she is convinced that Mussolini was pretty great and did so much good... It didn't matter how much I tried to talk about what he was in fact like and the shameful things done in Africa under him but she was convinced I didn't know what I was on about!🤦

[@caerdwyn7467]

Sounds exactly like what went on from 2016 to 2021 (and in many places, still does) in my country.

[@omzy8700]

Maybe he was great among Italians but with the suffering of other millions of people in other countries ,the same way some Belgium at the time probably believe that it was a great king simple because he brought wealth to their country but with the suffering of millions of people in Africa ,children ,mothers and fathers which it is sad because at this point what is the definition of a good person ,a person that is good to every human no matter what race they are or a person that is good to you and your family ?.

[@alanbstard4]

Musso did do good things for Italy

[@gamebawesome]

The people who disliked are all Belgians And they have the right to dislike because every Belgians knows that Leopold II atrocities

[@nnalan4886]

And what about the human zoos for Congolese that your government set up?

[@sjlewis271]

All Belgians could have known. But yet...nobody cared enough to put the resources and the people back where they found them. So...you don't matter. Next issue...

[@j.vonhogen9650]

Blah b - So, how many real victims are we talking about then?

[@karsten9895]

I'm German and I disliked it as well for the exact same reasons Blah b from the Netherlands pointed out.

[@misslabellekitty1298]

I am so happy that the citizens of Belgium know about all that information. However I must say: when talking about western colonization, the focus is always either France, Portugal, Spain, or Great Britain. There are no mentions of the role of Leopold and Belgium; it is a bit awkward. I'm saying this as a person who studied in 3 different educational systems of 3 different countries. Only when I started learning about post-colonialism and the diamond trade did I ever heard of this man.

[@trishapellis]

I think it's mostly about scale. First off, Spain and France are big countries all on their own. Secondly, they and also Portugal and the UK ended up with massive empires. And then aside from that, just like French fries are called 'French' even though they're Belgian, I wouldn't be surprised if people just kinda assume that it was France that colonized Congo because they speak French. What makes me wonder is the fact that the atrocities of the Netherlands in Indonesia are comparatively known by people, and I think this may be because a book was published about it - a book that can still be found today (the one by Multatuli). Because Leopold's excesses in the Congo were way worse, so by comparison, they really should be better known. But then, Congo was the wildest, most be-jungeled part of the African continent (the book 'Heart of Darkness' exemplifies that), and nobody was really interested in owning it or going there, which is why the other countries allowed Leopold to have it in the first place. Aside from that, I sometimes think there must be some kind of spell on Belgium where people just never think about Belgium in general. When I go to other countries, I often have people guess where I'm from, and I've heard anything from the UK to France and Germany to Norway to Hungary and Romania, but never Belgium. When I say Belgium, people are either surprised or they say "Oh, Belgium. I've been to Bruges/ have been wanting to go to Bruges". But even though they have literally been there, they never think about the fact that this place exists. They'll rattle off every country where they know my physical features are common except Belgium. So maybe it's just that. The Netherlands, at least, people think about it any time Marijuana is mentioned - which they aren't entirely happy with either, but from my point of view, at least people do think about them (like it would be different if it were murder or something, but weed isn't a bad thing). TL;DR: You're right, people should absolutely know about Leopold's atrocities. I think we're just so forgettable as a country that even the writers of history books just kinda don't think to mention us.

[@Moneyboyz3082]

Because they want to expose Hitler more than the animal Leopold ! They want to cover up his crimes against the Congolese people

[@davididiart5934]

The coverup was only done by the Belgian government in the aftermath of Leo's death. His crimes were widely reported in his lifetime, and there was a huge international outcry over the Congo Free State and the genocide going on there. The response was slow, measured, and wholly inadequate, but there was one. There was no coverup.

[@piotrswat169]

It was a different world colonization was not looked at as something negative.We did evolve, well most of us.

[@petrosmhlanga5052]

Why not put a statue of Hitler in Germany if you can put one of Leopold in Belgium.

[@Joshi_Mayd]

And Austria too :D.

[@mojofish1]

How is this the fault of the Belgians? Wasn't the Congo the King's personal property. The Belgian people were fed the same lie as was every other European at that time. More like a problem for the existing modern European monarchy.

[@mojofish1]

nn alan Human zoos were a common thing at that time. Two examples: 1893 Chicago Columbia Exposition has at least two and at about this time the NYC Zoo had a pigmy.... many many more examples... not forgiving any of them but this was a thing unrelated to the Congo in particular.

[@rorylyons1091]

Of course it is your fault You are white and from Belgium, just the same as Leopold was, I bet you even gave him tips on how to be cruel to black people.

[@sjlewis271]

He sold Belgium to the state like it was okay for you to buy it?! 😂😂😂 But you want sympathy for buying human beings and their land for profit...JUST LIKE HE DID?! This world is trash.

[@karsten9895]

Stephaniy Lewis you honestly believe the "Belgian people" of today bought King Leopold II's private colony? You seem to spread your uninformed and prejudiced comments everywhere.

[@karsten9895]

@Stanley Dougé Racist!

[@chrisdupreez6281]

Belgium, Germany, Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy Not much difference.

[@jesusherreros6211]

No...

[@nosferatuoddz7974]

@LIVIU DRAGNEA Few crimes? That implies that they're fucked up

[@zackyjenkinson6902]

@LIVIU DRAGNEA BS. Germany was among the worst, with the Herero and Namaqua Genocide being a precursor to the Holocaust.

[@ayanlejaguar3539]

LIVIU DRAGNEA wait whaaat? I hope i are joking did u ever heard about german tanzania it was horrible what u did to people of tanzania more worst than holicust oh wait only jews are important 🖕🏾

[@moonlitm3285]

@@ayanlejaguar3539 And the genocide in Namibia committed by the Germans during colonial rule.

[@balthazardeveroveraar9248]

Belgian here, every Belgian in Belgium knows exactly what he did. The statues are indeed controversial but all his actions were ofcourse horrible and everyone knows that.

[@chebochebo3058]

Ever seen a statue of Hitler in Berlin? Ya something is wrong with your thinking

[@mississippichris]

This video has the best comments. I have read some fascinating exchanges and learned a lot, particularly from you Belgians. Thanks.

[@dr.karasuoverhaul6963]

Truly grim... I can't believe I never knew about this.

[@barrycoleman6023]

Oddly enough, they do not teach about this in America. As far as k-12 or required school

[@ramdom-yy4wy]

youre a dumbass if your a belgian and don't. everyone learns this

[@jkputa5530]

Barry Coleman they do teach it in America

[@mr.e3894]

Just found out about this after seeing a meme. I fact checked, and sure enough, it was unfortunately true..

[@rockywilliams8433]

This man was equally evil if not more than stalin and hitler..Mao

[@adrinath92]

I'm from Belgium and me and many people around me are totally aware of this dark story. Now we have to accept the past like it is we cannot change anything in the past

[@lauritshalling5376]

I would not say it is a coverup, because you can quite easily learn the story of Belgian Congo. However, a lot of the people in the comments, who are saying they were taught the subject in history classes, are not aware, that this subject is not covered at all in other well educated countries. It's really to bad, as it is a very dark era in the european history that is very fascinating

[@SupremeCorine]

The reason it is not a cover up is because they can't. 😏😒

[@Moneyboyz3082]

They are too ashamed to teach the whole truth knowing it will cause a mass hatred for the Belgium people, so they try their best to cover up as much as they can

[@xkiwi100]

When I visited Ostend Belgium 30 years ago, where there was a statue of Leopold II, I explained to my children that this was the King of Belgium who cut off the children's hands in Congo, they have never forgotten it.

[@danhulson8703]

People in Belgium do know about the Congo,Also you said most western Nations have a History of Slavery no most of the world as a history of slavery going back thousands of years not just the west

[@kharyrobertson3579]

I guess the west just did the innovation thing and brought chattel slavery to the world, kudos

[@Zorro9129]

Only the West successfully abolished slavery.

[@sjlewis271]

@@Zorro9129 West made it unlawful. Slavery will never end. But try to go off though...

[@melanieenmats]

Factual error in your first 30 seconds stating that there are golden statues everywhere. What bs what are you even thinking

[@arthas640]

I have it on good authority that the Belgians still worship him as a god. Every household is required by Belgian law to have a shrine with a gold leaf covered Belgian chocolate statue of Leopold in their home. The capital of the Congo still has statues of him everywhere since the ghost of Leopold will curse anyone who trys to take one down.

[@michaellejeune7715]

@@arthas640 Not to mention the mandatory growing of The Beard, women included.

[@karsten9895]

@@arthas640 Who is this 'good authority'? Because whoever told you that, simply lied.

[@MarkusM121]

@@karsten9895 The ministry of irony

[@karsten9895]

@@MarkusM121 Oh, my bad. I didn't read on. Just the frist sentence. The joke is on me.

[@uzaiyaro]

I genuinely never thought I would consider someone as worse than Hitler, but goddamn.

[@keanusamuels1782]

Oh boy tyen you didn't hear about stalin and gengis khan

[@uzaiyaro]

Oh, I’m well aware of Stalin. I believe he might just eke our hitler, if only slightly. They’re both as bad as eachother. Genghis Khan, I actually don’t know much about. Apart from that a measurably large number of people at least in certain parts of the world are direct descendants from him.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

damn

[@executionsquad3926]

Well.. they can't beat modern life though: just a push on a button and a country gets blown away foregood. Go figure how cruel and shallow we have become. Suddenly the color of skin does not matter. Except when you are black: then you don't have any buttons to wipe away countries. I wonder why...

[@executionsquad3926]

Oh well, Genghis used any kind of cruelty to get it his way. ~ Btw the muslims eventually ganged up with (one of?) the last crusader's stronghold in the Arab world to defeat the Mongols. Now.. if that does not sound terrifying :)

[@mingyuhuang8944]

This is why I hate it when Belgian people complain about Chinese "colonialism" in Africa these days. Like yeah China's improving Africa's economy and Belgium has them enslaved and hands chopped off all for fun 😢

[@maxime4286]

15:42 - “They will say that slavery never happened in the Congo.” - That information is utterly incorrect. You should absolutely avoid making bold statements like that in a video which is supposed to be based on facts and obviously trying to 'enlighten' its watchers. You just cannot afford to spread wrong information in a what is supposed to be historically correct video. Belgians - being one - know very well that outrageous atrocities were commited and luckily, we are taught about them in our schools. A true statement to my opinion would be that not enough attention is given to the events, considering the scale - by everyone, not just the Belgians.

[@bjornschievers1006]

I'm from Belgium and I can tell you I'm aware of my history. By the way, while Leopold II lived Belgium was not the owner of Congo, HE was. And to my my knowledge 10 million is a conservative figure. But you should get your facts straight before you make a video. Things are out in the open, despite your claims of secrecy.

[@flashingdragon8321]

Dutch student studying in Belgium, I've been watching Biographics for months, and completely adore it. But I just want to correct the fact that we are taught his infamous deeds! It's a small detail, so it's alright!

[@AholeAtheist]

REPATRIATE FLANDERS!

[@Frahamen]

It's not a "small detail" it's literally what he strats with, it's in the title too. He's presenting the false narative that Leo II is presented as a hero. Should schools tell about his atrocities more? Probably. Should his statues be removed? Definitly. But he is not presented as a hero what so ever.

[@ChristIsGod777]

Another Dutchman here. I’ve been on school/university 23 of my 29 years, and I’ve always enjoyed high level education. We never spoke about this during history class. It wasn’t in our history books. Our history lessons were most about the second world war, and only the communist side of the story :) but I read about Leopold myself and tell people ablut him. Many fellow Dutchman haven’t heard of him nor his deeds

[@flashingdragon8321]

Frahamen Yeah, I was just trying to give it a little patch of salt, since I know a lot of these episodes take a ton of work to set up, but it's a big mistake in the video for sure.

[@flashingdragon8321]

dtothez187 Yeah, but you studied in The Netherlands, I assume. I've been to both Belgian and Dutch high schools. I didn't even know who Leopold II was during my time at the Dutch one, because it wasn't of any big importance to Dutch education. But in the Flannish (Belgian) schools, the teachers will make sure you'll know about his deeds.

[@lindainglis8506]

Read Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. “The horror, the horror.”

[@presidentelectseymourbutts3145]

The snail goes over the razor blade ; )

[@coitze8704]

One of the best books of the 19th Century

[@forslavjo]

I took a modern imperialism class at university and the professor referred to the Congo as Leopold's "personal playground". I always thought that it was an interesting way to think of his control of the Congo.

[@mingyuhuang8944]

This is why I hate it when Belgian people complain about Chinese "colonialism" in Africa these days. Like yeah China's improving Africa's economy and Belgium has them enslaved and hands chopped off all for fun 😢😂😂😂

[@CJusticeHappen21]

*Me:* "Wow, this E. D. Morel guy sounds like a class act!" *_Reads Wikipedia Page_* *Me:* "nope."

[@x10mark24]

ehhh he did some bad things but over all he was a major factor in saving legitimately hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives so even though i agree that his later politics and writings are... not so good his actions as a whole are good

[@mrlin1687]

Yeh I was feeling good about E. D Morel until your comment. The 'shame' is on him considering his expose of King Leopold II. Although he did set the ball rolling. But he was also a racist... just not one willing to accept murderous treatment I guess.

[@ayiza8511]

Honestly im horrifed everytime i hear how the western countries treated the african people. less human than them! less devolped! its amazing what people can convince themself off when not admiting their acting like monsters and keave their humanity behind.

[@griffiththechad9483]

Strawberry Kiys definitely a terrible thing that happened but Africans faces atrocities for centuries from Europe and the West. That doesn’t compare to killings that happened in 2007

@@griffiththechad9483 stfu it’s their own fault for being unevolved

[@kellymolly3616]

@ unevolved yeah?? OK hope you'll say the same when that happens to you

[@presidentelectseymourbutts3145]

Three kinds of humans: sheep, wolves, and shepherds! Forget virtue signaling and identity politics and look inward and decide which of the three are you : )

[@israeladesanya4596]

Never mind the Arabs still enslaving Africans today though, skin colour isn’t right is it?

[@kjsullivan7226]

I literally looked up this topic hoping this gentleman would be the one narrating it, and I am not disappointed.

[@Subher0]

Being from Belgium, they actually do teach what horrible things Leopold did. Don't know where you get it from schools in Belgium don't teach these facts.

[@montjoiestdenis9788]

Bizarrement, quand on demande l'avis d'un docteur en Histoire comme le docteur Pierre-Luc Plasman, spécialiste de la question, les chiffres avancés par les enquêtes britannique sont très largement exagéré. Quand Léopold à su ce que faisait l'unique officier qui coupait les mains, il est entré dans une colère noir et il l'officier a été arrêter. Léopold n'a d'ailleurs jamais été au Congo de sa vie. Si tu t'étais renseigner un minimum tu dirais plutôt de lui que c'était un roi bâtisseur, c'est lui qui a pousser l'urbanisme de la Belgique actuel et qui a construit les grands monuments. Je te suggère vivement d'aller voir son interview sur BX1 qu'on trouve sur youtube facilement.

[@PandaGamingBE]

Simon please, usually your videos are really well researched but here it seems like you just assumed education in Belgium is still the same as it was 50 years ago. Leopold's atrocities are most well-known in Belgium because we are taught the crimes he committed in school. Every kid these days learns about it. Well, it looks like many other Belgians have pointed this out already but yeah... do your research.

[@augnkn93043]

Jonas Hellebuyck He’s not an historian and I wouldn’t rely on him for the truth.

[@Zorro9129]

Simon is extremely biased or blindered at best and an outright propagandist at worst.

[@ScamallDorcha]

It is clear he was talking about the early 20th century when he said Belgians weren't taught about it.

[@karsten9895]

ScamalDorcha wrong! He's clearly using the present tense.

[@morrighanwermarn-arnburg7333]

It is messed up what the Belgians did in the Congo under Leopold II. However what happened in the Congo before the Belgians arrived and what has been going on since they left is pretty messed up also. The Congo needs a leader, someone from the Congo, who will not steal the countries wealth. The government of Congo gets plenty of money selling resources, oil, wood, cobalt, copper, diamond, tantalum, tin, and gold. Since independence, the leaders have stolen this money, bought palaces in the Swiss Alps. To start the Congo is in desperate need of roads. The standard of living for every person in the Congo could be raised greatly simply by building reliable roads throughout the country. The dirt paths they have now are impassable for months during the rainy season, and the rest of the year are difficult to travel on. Building paved roads with proper foundations and drainage would help the people get their crops to the market to sell. They could plant a few rubber plantations throughout the country to add to the wealth and be able to transport the rubber to ports on the coast for export. The Congo could log and mine their own land deeper in the interior and transport the resources to ports for export. Grain and other food could be transported throughout the country easily. Areas with a poor harvest could purchase food from areas with a plentiful harvest, or buy imported food. Medicine could be distributed to the sick and when epidemics break out. The central government could send troops to areas with guerilla forces who loot and kill the locals. Currently rebels can operate in remote regions with impunity, especially during the rainy season. Since independence the leader of the congo have spent nothing on infrastructure. No roads have been built. They had the money, but stole it and squandered it all. I am not a communist. I do not support redistribution of anything or any free handouts. I'm only saying the tax and tariffs the Congo government collects, plus the money from all the resources exported and sold, some of that money should be used on infrastructure projects, specifically roads through the interior.

[@yondus]

“Nearly every Western nation has some history of slavery and genocide..” Let’s be honest now, EVERY nation has this, there’s no need to differentiate.

[@ImperialDiecast]

guy is a typical leftie who only things of england france, america, spain and portugal as "the west". i hate people like him.

[@kieranororke620]

I was taught about this in my teens by a history teacher when studying the 19th century 'Scramble for Africa' and shown the photos of the punishment disfigurings, etc. I have also seen books on this subject since and seen it covered in more than one documentary, so I am not aware of any 'cover-up' in the modern age at least, making the title a bit sensationalist.

[@mingyuhuang8944]

This is why I hate it when Belgian people complain about Chinese "colonialism" in Africa these days. Like yeah China's improving Africa's economy and Belgium has them enslaved and hands chopped off all for fun 😢😢😢😂😂

[@philippedefechereux8740]

Excellent. This from an American born and raised in Belgium and who indeed thought the best of King Leopold II until, 30 years after he first arrived in New York City (where he made his advertising career), he bought and read the new book "King Leopold's Ghosts." To this day, his college friends who stayed in Belgium still refuse to believe the terrible truth.

[@gerarpope6581]

Wow, so much evil was done under one man. I remember doing an independent research paper in undergrad on the Congo and how it became Zaire, but my focus was more so on Patrice Lumumba and the change of leadership after him. Now that I'm older and have more knowledge of what and why, it puts a lot of things into perspective. The books I had access to at that time seemed to downplay the atrocities of Leopold II. I feel so much for the innocent lives in that never asked for this. Geesh man!

[@sjoncb]

The Belgium government owe reparations to the people of The Congo, return stolen museum artifacts, followed by a public apology and sincere regret.

[@basketball9424]

@@sjoncb We don't owe you non humans anything.

[@blacktigerpaw1]

@@sjoncb Then every single African in Europe can return to Africa.

[@blacktigerpaw1]

There weren't enough Congolese in the Congo for 10 million to die.

[@nero360_]

@@basketball9424 But you can enjoy the looted resources?

[@ozzierabbit587]

In his later years, Leopold said that no one had the right to know what he did. The arrogance of this man was almost beyond comprehension.

[@bringbacktheolddislike305]

So you think that he really did kill 10 million people, just like that, with the help of more or less 300 colonists, for fun? It makes 0 sense.

[@A_Fortunate_Traveler]

We are now halfway 2020. Finally awareness has grown here in Belgium about the atrocities done under Leopold II. Statues of him, roads named after him, the have become doubtful. Yet, in my humble opinion, as a Belgian citizen, it is not enough. King Filip has asked for a pardon but his words were measured because Belgium is afraid to be forced paying compensation. In fact nothing has changed and King Filip is the result of what is still a dysfunctional royal family. I am not proud being Belgian at all.

[@radnasirhill]

No compensation how this should be called, but payback or simply a return of anything unlawfully or against human and Christian morals was taken by every Belgian who was involved and profited from African loot. Not the dysfunctional Royal family who is in scope here but the whole of the Belgium pal.

[@talkeverything1813]

also the story of the biggest african enslavers and genociders the muslims not being told

[@radnasirhill]

@@talkeverything1813 Are you Belgian? Don't bring into this other topics or Muslims it is only about horrible Belgian people. Muslims are questioned in other videos. What are you trying to do? A smoke screen? Too late for it, the Belgian nation is widely hated already.

[@talkeverything1813]

@@radnasirhill not from belgium, i think it is omportent thing to discuss, i don't think there is unikly big hate for belgium

[@radnasirhill]

@@talkeverything1813 It is growing after the internet bringing more and more facts very pedantically hidden by Belgians for decades. Just watch the hate growing, don't mix Muslims into this.

[@eightykakes15]

This is one of the reasons why Killmonger was pissed for anyone wondering...

[@dr.max9yt459]

It wasn’t very much mentioned in bp. But why would killmonger be mad at something that happened well over 100 years ago?

[@eightykakes15]

@@dr.max9yt459 Not everything is literal.

[@eightykakes15]

@@dr.max9yt459 Also, he would definitely be upset about wealth and lives being taken from an African country. Are you dense? 🤔

[@dr.max9yt459]

@@eightykakes15 no it’s just stupid, it’s sad that it happened, it’s actually horrible. But that’s so stupid he’s still mad for something 100+ years ago and he went on a rampage for something that happened so long ago

[@eightykakes15]

@@dr.max9yt459 Yes. It's stated in Black Panther... He ask "Where was Wakanda". They show you in the opening that while Wakanda thrived and developed Vibranium technology, other African countries (and the world in general) suffered slavery and tyranny. Again, yes, this is why Killmonger was upset. Yes, he would still be upset. I am still pissed. Many of all races are still upset.

[@bigkoros]

Congo made Belgium rich whereas here in Africa, congo is among the poorest in the world.

[@cassandra5390]

good on ya! THESE are the kinds of history videos that need to be made!

[@sakke9516]

Hello, I'm also Belgian. I see a lot of other reactions from the Belgian people saying (almost demanding) to undo some of the statements in this video about our blindness for the deeds of Leopold II, saying that we are well aware of the situation. Now that is true, but however, we cannot let our personal feelings stand in the way of how history is told through the eyes of an objective source. We do not need to identify with the ideology of individuals who lived long before us. We can learn from them but not in any way do the represent who we as a nation are today. This counts for even the most hated tyrants in history. I was amazed to see how the Belgian people used to treat the Congolese as a form of "fun afternoon entertainment" and I am glad to not be able to imagine this happening today.

[@dpb8780]

Do you know that France also had an African village in Paris so it is not as if we started that!

[@omzy8700]

Belgium ,England and france became wealthy country over the suffering of millions of other people from other nations ,not long ago I saw a documentary where they found out that the Uk stole over £45 trillions to India alone ,remember uk was heavily also involved in africa too ,France to this day is still taking over 500 billions to 1 trillion a year from 14 African nations ,France is heavily depend from the exploitation of those African countries ,in fact several prime ministers(like the Italian primer minister )have mention that if France would stop exploiting from those African nations it would became a third world country .Belgium became rich over the killing of millions Congolese.

[@diypictures]

Sounds like he has beef with Belgium lol. Also, did did he die in 1897 or 1909? That seems to be an error.

[@naturebundles]

@@dpb8780 it doesn’t make what Belgium did better 🚮

[@dpb8780]

@@naturebundles LOL do you know Belgium? You probably do not know the difference between, a king and a private citizen? Everybody is a private citizen, so he got discovered Conge, in those days Africa was not yet totally discovered. His niece however was already selling slaves to the world, yes Queen Victoria of England. So you see it was his property and not Belgian's property big difference!

[@ripfree603]

If they really felt any remorse there wouldn’t be statues of the devil, any the Congolese people should receive reparations.

[@firemarshal2629]

😂😂😂😂

[@emrmch]

Roger Casement was an Irish freedom fighter who De Valera and the church tried to write out of history. You should do an episode on him (if you haven’t already).

[@OFilellinas]

I'm Belgian. What you said about what is taught in Belgian schools is simply not true. We're taught he was a monster.

[@eliportier8049]

evert single person in Belgium knows about this

[@robertmusacchio9409]

Years ago I saw Roger Casement's haunting portrait on aq staircase in the big museum in Dublin and I was inspired to read his bio. To put it mildly, his life and death is quite a story. I suggest you look into it.

[@Devlbaby]

"...the horror, the Horror..." ~ Joseph Conrad

[@Zorro9129]

Still applies to modern Congo.

[@Devlbaby]

I'm guessing you've read The River; Edward Hooper?!?

[@Zorro9129]

Sadly, I am not a literary connoisseur.

[@saraht9442]

For the record, let’s also add that it was the Belgium’s who caused the atrocity in Rwanda. It was the Belgium’s who had incited the two groups of people to go against each other. A very strategic plan.

[@jonnnyren6245]

Damn, this guy would do well in a conversation with Comrade Vissarionovich and Fuhrer Schiklgruber.

[@matrixdexter270]

as an afrcian, this so much too watch..and everyday that hate continues, south africa, namibia, Zibambwe..That hate is growing everyday..too painful to watch.

[@mynameis______392]

@@matto6195 What???

[@BernardoMV88]

Zibambwe? You mean Rhodesia

[@richmondcorporatevideo8331]

Outstanding work!! Are you going to tell the ruthless story of the Rothchilds?